Bolivians take to the streets in a show of support of Morales re-election

Record ID: 275517

  • Title: Bolivians take to the streets in a show of support of Morales re-election
  • Date: 21st February 2017
  • Summary: GENERAL VIEW OF STAGE AND PROTEST SUPPORTERS DANCING DURING GATHERING
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2017 20:05
  • Keywords: Morales Bolivia march support MAS
  • Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
  • City: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00364GSJ7N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Supporters of Bolivian President Evo Morales marched in the capital La Paz on Tuesday (February 21) almost a year after their leader lost a referendum that would have reformed the country's constitution to allow him to run again.
    Despite his referendum loss, Morales has said he may run for a fourth consecutive term in elections in 2019.
    Morales, a leftist who took office in 2006, was elected to a third term in 2014. He is Bolivia's first indigenous president and a key ally of Venezuela, whose socialist government has lost allies in the region as countries like Argentina have moved to the right.
    Union leader, Juan Torrejon, and Morales supporters have said that last year's February referendum outcome was motivated by lies. They claim a scandal over Morales' ex-partner, Gabriela Zapata, was inflated to damage the ruler.
    "On February 21, 2016 the right has begun to disturb our brother president with big lies led by (Samuel) Doria Medina (opposition leader) who has financed everything," Torrejon told a rally of Morales supporters on Tuesday.
    Zapata was jailed after being accused of economic crimes. She claimed she had a child with Morales.
    The government deemed February 21 be called the "Day of the Lie," while the opposition claimed that such a date should be commemorated as the "Day of Democracy."
    "Brother President Evo Morales Ayma, you are not alone. All social organizations are with you. We are all supporting you. Thousands of thousands are behind you, supporting you. You will never be behind us brother president. And you will continue 2020 to 2025, you will continue to be our president," said the Leader of the Bartolina Sisa National Federation of Peasant Women, Graciela Vilca.
    Morales supporters were seen waving posters showing animated classic "Pinocchio" characters, while they danced around.
    Bolivia's constitution allows for presidents to serve two consecutive terms, although courts have decided that Morales' first term, from 2006 to 2010, does not count because the country adapted a new constitution in 2009.
    Morales, accepted the results of the February 2016 referendum, in which 51.3 percent of voters voted against changing the constitution to allow him to run for a new term, but blamed the loss on a smear campaign by the right-wing opposition.
    To allow Morales to run despite the referendum loss, the country could hold a new referendum, or the legislature - controlled by his party - could approve a new constitutional referendum with a two-thirds vote. Morales could also resign six months before the end of his term to run again.
    The landlocked Andean country has vast reserves of natural gas, and its economy is largely dependent on natural gas and mineral exports.
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