Bolivians in SP face long lines to vote for president; winner “will have the challenge of uniting the country,” says voter | Saint Paul

In the main electoral college of the São Paulo capital, the São Paulo Institute of Science and Technology, in Luz, central region, there was no recommended distance to avoid the transmission of Covid-19. The institute is located next to the Plaza Kantuta, where this Sunday the traditional Bolivian Kantuta Fair started again.

Bolivians are the majority of foreigners living in the city of São Paulo. In the state, 40,342 voters have the right to go to the polls today, reported the Superior Electoral Court of Bolivia. Unlike the Brazilian elections, voting takes place on ballots in the capital of São Paulo.

Bolivian Harlem Arispe, 34, has been in Brazil for 5 years and is voting for the second time. “The future of Evo Morales [depois desta eleição] It is uncertain. I don’t think his party will be elected ”.

These are the first elections in Bolivia without the participation of Evo Morales since 1997.

Fifteen years ago in Brazil, Ronald Mancilla, 33, also faced the queues to vote. “Politically, Bolivia’s time is complicated. There is the question of left and right parties, there is a lot of regionalism, the country is a bit divided, and that same feeling is here with the Bolivian community. What everyone wants is that, whoever the president is, he will have the challenge of uniting the country, not governing with feelings and impositions.

Three candidates are ahead at the polls, Luis Arce, the candidate of Evo Morales’ party, Carlos Mesa, considered a center, and Luis Fernando Camacho, leader of the extreme right.

Despite the queue, Bolivian Ramiro said the voting process was fast inside the institute. “I also voted last year and this year people are more anxious. I think people want changes, the things the president is doing now are very bad,” he said.

Two right-wing candidates dropped out: interim president Jeanine Añez and Jorge Quiroga, who was also the country’s leader.

The two left the elections to avoid a victory in the first round for Arce, Evo’s candidate. However, none declared their support for Mesa, the runner-up.

Understand the 2019 Canceled Elections

The vote to elect the next president is the second in a year. On October 20, 2019, Evo ran for the fourth time and came first (Mesa, who is now racing again, came second). As he had more than 40% of the votes, he was considered a winner.

The initial result of the count indicated a second round, but there were interruptions in the count. After days of uncertainty, the process was resumed and Evo was the winner.

Then the protests against the results began.

On November 10, 2019, the Organization of American States (OAS) released a report stating that the elections had been rigged.

Evo canceled the results and called for new elections immediately. However, the action was not enough: under pressure from the military, he resigned and then fled the country. Initially he went to Mexico and then went into exile in Argentina.

Subsequently, studies by US research groups questioned the OAS claim that the 2019 elections were rigged.