The Bolivian leader Evo Morales announced his victory in the first round of presidential elections at a press conference.
“We have already won the first round. I urge organizations and people to respect our constitution”, – he said.
He also called opposition leader Carlos Mesa a “criminal”.
According to the website of the Supreme Election Court data, as a result of counting 98.42% of the votes, Morales gains 46.83% of the vote, beating 10.13% of his rival Mesu, for whom 36.7% of the vote cast. A 10% difference is enough to win the first round.
Earlier, the OAS observer mission called on authorities to hold a second round of voting, noting irregularities during the election and the inequality of the conditions of the candidates. Mesa, in turn, has already disagreed with the vote count.
Morales has been in the presidency for three consecutive terms and is entering the fourth.