The OAS asked Bolivia to convene a second round of elections: "This would be the best option"

The Director of Electoral Observation of the OAS, Gerardo de Icaza, said that it would be "better" to hold a poll in Bolivia, even though the current Bolivian president Evo Morales has enough room to win. first round

"Because of the context and the problems highlighted in this electoral processit would always be best to call a second round, "said de Icaza at a special meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS), based in Washington.

Until noon Tuesday, the final count of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of Bolivia established that with 96.63% of the minutes calculated, President Morales led the results of Sunday's vote with 46.04% followed by his rival, former President Carlos Mesa, with 37.36%.

Bolivian law says winning a candidate in the first round you have to get 50% plus one of the votes or reach 40% and have a difference of at least ten percentage points on the second most voted candidate.

De Icaza estimated that in the event that Evo Morales would obtain these ten points of difference, it is "reasonable to conclude that it will be with a very small percentage" and, therefore, he stated that it would be A "best option" opt for a second round.

"Each election must be governed by the principles of certainty, legality, transparency, fairness, independence and impartiality." The mission was able to verify that several of these principles had been violated by different causes throughout this electoral process, "he said. "The results of an election must be credible and acceptable for the entire population; not just for a sector, "he added.

After the elections, which were held on Sunday, the preliminary count of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the electoral body of Bolivia, opened the door to a second round between Evo Morales and Carlos Mesa, but this possibility has lost of its vigor after this one. interrupt the TSE account.

The OAS and the European Union (EU), who also sent an observer mission to accompany the elections in Bolivia, expressed concern over the interruption of the preliminary count and asked for the Bolivian authorities to guarantee the transparency of the process.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia, Diego Pary, informed OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro that he agreed to conduct an audit of the entire electoral process, without however make it clear that he agrees that his results are valid. mandatory, as claimed by the agency.