Bolivia set to hold presidential election re-run on May 3

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Bolivians will choose a new president on May 3, more than six months after a disputed election sparked violent street protests and the resignation of Evo Morales.

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Interim leader Jeanine Anez has been overseeing a caretaker government since then, after Morales fled the country for Mexico.

The new presidential election will be “the first Sunday of May, I can let you know that much,” said the vice president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Oscar Hassenteufel.

Once complete, the electoral schedule will include dates for registration of candidates, the campaign timeframe, rules on advertising, and rules on a potential second round.

Bolivia has been in turmoil since presidential voting on October 20. Morales insistence after 14 years in power that he had been elected to a fourth term in a widely disputed vote prompted massive and violent street protests.

On November 10, after losing the armys backing, Bolivias first indigenous president resigned and fled to Mexico, before moving on to Argentina.

US-backed coup d'etat

Morales, a socialist, told AFP on December 24 that he was forced from power by a US-backed coup detat aimed at gaining access to the South American countrys vast lithium resources.

Demand for lithium is expected to grow globally as it is one of the key components in batteries used in high-tech equipment such as laptops and electric cars.

Bolivia does have the largest confirmed lithium resources in the world, but they are widely thought to be of poor quality, and the country lacks the infrastructure to exploit them profitably.

Morales Movement for Socialism (MAS) party has named him campaign chief for the upcRead More – Source