Economics
South America’s Longest-Serving Leader Seeks Another Term
- Bolivia’s Evo Morales is sole survivor of leftist ‘pink tide’
- Growth boosted by gas exports which are now in decline
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Bolivia’s President Evo Morales faces his toughest electoral challenge yet as he seeks a fourth term in office amid voters’ waning enthusiasm for South America’s longest-serving leader.
Morales needs 50% of the ballots in a first-round vote Sunday -- or 40% together with a 10-point lead over his closest rival -- to avoid a run-off vote. Polls suggest he has a good shot at pulling that off, though unlike in previous contests, the result may be close. An Ipsos Bolivia poll published Oct. 13 put Morales at 40% with his closest rival, Carlos Mesa, at 22%, with a 2% margin of error.