Bolivian Elections 2020

With his right hand on his chest, Luis Arce was sworn in on Sunday in the presence of leaders and representatives of states in the region. In his career, he was a civil servant at the Central Bank, taught at university and was Minister of Economy during the government of Evo Morales. The inauguration was made effective despite requests, such as from the Committee for Santa Cruz, that Arce did not take over while an audit of the electoral process is being carried out.

Exit polls show Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) candidate Luis Arce got around 50%, against 30% of the ex-president Luis Mesa. This advantage would give the socialist candidate the victory without the need of a second round. The definitive count is expected on Wednesday.

Interim president Jeanine Añez, who took office after last year's coup, recognized the victory. Luis Arce was the economy minister during the 12 years of Evo Morales presidencies.

Thousands of Bolivians, from different parts of the country marched this Tuesday in the municipality of El Alto, adjacent to La Paz, against the postponement of the elections ordered last week by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Smaller mobilizations were carried out in other cities of the country.

"Elections now", "democracy, yes; dictatorship, no " and "outside Áñez ” were chanted by the protesters called by the Bolivian Workers Central and the Unity Pact, the coalition of unions affiliated to the Movement to Socialism (MAS), the party of former President Evo Morales.

The elections, initially scheduled for September 6, were postponed to October 20 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.