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Bolivia election: Exit polls suggest win for Luis Arce

Bolivia's leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce (C), of the Movement for Socialism party, celebrates with running mate David Choquehuanca (R) early on October 19, 2020, in La Paz, Bolivia. - Bolivian presidential candidate Luis Arce, the leftist heir to former leader Evo Morales, appeared headed to a first-round election victory on October 18, 2020 with 52.4 percent of the vote, according to an authoritative exit poll from TV station Unitel. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

Exit polls suggest socialist candidate Luis Arce is set to win Bolivia’s presidential election.

The polls indicate that Mr Arce, who is an ally of exiled former President Evo Morales, has won enough votes to stave off a second round.

Mr Arce has said he will form a “government of national unity”.

There are deep divisions in Bolivia after last year’s controversial election which ended in allegations of fraud and the exile of Mr Morales.

In order to win outright in the first round, a candidate needs to obtain 40% of the vote and have a 10-percentage-point lead over his nearest rival.

What do the polls say?

Exit polls carried out by the Jubileo research institution gave Luis Arce of the Mas party 53% of the votes, followed by centrist candidate Carlos Mesa of the Citizens’ Community alliance with 30.8%.

A quick-count by pollsters Ciesmori suggested Mr Arce had won with 52.4%, trailed by Mr Mesa with 31.5%.

If the polls are confirmed, Mr Arce will be the next president of Bolivia without the need for a second round of voting in November.

What has the reaction been?

Mr Arce, who has already claimed victory, said Bolivia had “recovered democracy”, in a reference to last year’s controversial election which was annulled after allegations of fraud.

Jeanine Áñez, who became interim president after the annulment, has congratulated Mr Arce and his running mate, David Choquehuanca.

Ms Áñez, who bowed out of the presidential race last month, wrote on Twitter: “We still do not have an official count, but from the data we have, Mr Arce and Mr Choquehuanca have won the election.”

She added: “I congratulate the winners and ask them to govern with Bolivia and democracy in mind.”

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