Bolivians elect new president, parliament

Dec 18, 2005, 16:43 GMT

La Paz - More than 3.6 million Bolivians began voting Sunday in a presidential election that could hand power to a socialist Indio who wants to legalize coca, nationalize the oil industry and redistribute the country's wealth.

Evo Morales, seen as embracing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during anti-U.S. protests in Argentina in early November, was considered favourite to win, according to recent opinion polls. If elected, he will be Bolivia's first president to represent the 70 per cent majority Indios.

Morales' election platform includes plans to nationalize the oil and natural gas industries and to redistribute property from large to small farmers - a move that could cause a backlash from the country's rich.

Polls showed that Morales, 46, faced tough opposition from former conservative president Jorge Quiroga of the We Can (Podemos) party.

Quiroga, 45, could in fact snatch the presidency by piecing together an alliance in the about-to-be elected new parliament. In addition to choosing a new senate and chamber of deputies, voters will pick regional parliaments and governors.

Regardless of who takes the helm, Bolivia, one of the poorest and most unstable countries in Latin America, is likely to experience continued political and social unrest, political analysts say.

The race is being closely watched by countries in the region and world leaders. In a letter Friday to current Bolivian President Eduardo Rodriguez Veltze, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan called on Bolivians to maintain a peaceful and constructive attitude during the elections.

Annan believes the elections constitute an 'invaluable opportunity to advance the search for peaceful and democratic solutions to the challenges Bolivia faces', according to a statement issued by a United Nations spokesman.