Tense closing of the campaigns for the presidential elections in Bolivia | Chronic

The Ombudsman and the Catholic Church of Bolivia have called on Sunday to travel serenely the last days before the general elections next Sunday, after the riots of the closure of the President's campaign Evo Morales, other episodes of violence and suspicion of fraud.

"You can not repeat regrettable events, such as those that occurred last week in public, political and civic demonstrations, which highlighted acts of discrimination, racism and physical and psychological violence"said the Ombudsman in a statement quoted by the newspapers Página Siete and Los Tiempos.

The Church also warned that "These elections unfortunately take place in a climate of mistrust for fear of a possible manipulation of the electoral process", in a statement of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, read this morning at Mass by his Deputy Secretary General, José Fuentes, according to the two newspapers.

The tension in the latter part of the campaign reached its peak when Morales closed his campaign in Potosí, where a general strike took place for a week to claim higher mining royalties in the area and the repeal of 39; a decree authorizing the entry of a German company for the exploitation of lithium.

While the president delivered his speech, clashes took place between protesters from Potosi and activists from the ruling Socialist Movement (MAS), which left at least six people wounded and were dispersed by the police. using tear gas, according to the newspaper El Dut.

Morales regretted the riots and said that "certain groups" they want "make a move" in case he wins the elections.

The Chancellor, Diego Pary, attributed the incident to the intervention of "a shock group of the Potosinist Civic Committee (Comcipo)", organizer of the event.

Meanwhile, the opposition candidate with the greatest intention to vote, the former president Carlos MesaHe closed his campaign that day during the morning in Chuquisaca by walking in the city center.

"We are talking about a fundamental moment for democracy, after 13 long years of a government that has resulted in the most brutal authoritarianism and the need to build a democracy that can recover the essential values ​​"Said Mesa in an interview published by Page Seven.

On the other hand, the latest poll on voting intention, published by the private company Ipsos, predicted Morales' victory in both the first round and the ballot.

According to this survey, Morales would have a 40% support for the first round and Mesa, 22%, as for the ballot, the current president ahead of his opponent with 47 to 39% of the vote, reported the press. EFE news agency.

Until a few weeks ago, most polling stations gave Morales a closer advantage for the first round and had more of a desire to vote for Mesa in the vote.

On the other hand, three other surveys published last week reflected a "technical draw" situation for the second round, according to Page Seven.

Bolivians will go to the polls next Sunday to elect their president and vice president. If no formula gets half plus one vote, the two most voted candidates should be measured in the second round on December 15th.

Morales aspires to obtain a fourth consecutive term, which the Constitution prohibits and that the majority of citizens refused by referendum in 2016, but for which it was authorized in 2017 by a judgment of the Constitutional Court.