BOLIVIA: Bolivia's President Eduardo Rodriguez addressed the country ahead of the historic presidential vote that pits indigenous leader Evo Morales against conservative former president Jorge Tuto Quiroga.

Record ID: 347113

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Bolivia's President Eduardo Rodriguez addressed the country ahead of the historic presidential vote that pits indigenous leader Evo Morales against conservative former president Jorge Tuto Quiroga.
  • Date: 18th December 2005
  • Summary: (BN01)LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (DECEMBER 17, 2005) (REUTERS) GV/CU/GV: EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, CLOSE OF CLOCK, GUARDS OUTSIDE (3 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA67M7NKKYKHXXK1C66P0XCG019
  • Story Text: Bolivia's President Eduardo Rodriguez addressed the country on Saturday (December 17) ahead of the historic presidential vote that pits indigenous leader Evo Morales against conservative former president Jorge Tuto Quiroga.
    During his speech, Rodriguez said that all agreements that have been made thus far is for the benefit of the people regardless of the outcome of the elections.
    "These contracts (political agreements made prior to elections) gave Bolivians certainty regarding what will happen in the country in the immediate future, with objectives that do not end with the elections, they are oriented more to continue and consolidate the process of institutionalizing the state and to construct a better country for all of us," Rodriguez said.
    He added: "It was not easy to reach December 18. We had to confront dangers along the path put there by groups that did not want to have elections and other who did not think the elections would be possible. However, with the firm support of the Bolivian people, we overcame these obstacles and we reached the destiny that had been postponed."
    The Brazilian government's special envoy to Bolivia, Marco Aurelio Garcia, met with President Rodriguez earlier in the day to express South America's trading bloc Mercosur's support to Bolivia's democracy regardless of the outcome.
    "Mercosur is presently here for the current government and the future government as well as the political forces to offer Mercosur's political support to Bolivia," Aurelio Garcia said.
    Meanwhile, in Cochabama, leading presidential candidate Evo Morales had lunch with members of the media and met with members of the European Union's commission of electoral observers.
    "They (the European Union) are very impressed with our participation in these elections. Their presence is to strengthen our democracy and we are very happy to have international organisms who worry about and work to strengthen democracy," Morales said.
    If Morales wins the election, he will be Bolivia's first Indian president.
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