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The interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez, announced this Thursday his withdrawal from the presidential race one month before the elections, in an attempt to prevent the triumph of the leftist Luis Arce, the dolphin of former president Evo Morales.
“Today I put aside my candidacy for the presidency of Bolivia, to take care of democracy“Said the right-wing president in a televised message.
In his message, he explained that he made the decision “in view of the risk that the democratic vote will be divided among several candidates and that as a result of that division the MAS (Movimiento Al Socialismo, led by Morales) will end up winning the election” on October 18.
Surrounded by her vice-presidential candidate, businessman Samuel Doria Medina, and other political allies, Áñez called for a unit against the MAS, whose standard-bearer is at the top of the electoral polls.
“If we don’t unite, Morales returns; if we don’t unite, democracy loses; if we don’t unite, the dictatorship wins“Said the 53-year-old president.
Áñez left the electoral race a day after a national poll by the Jubilee Catholic Foundation was released, which assigned him fourth place, with only 7% of the intention to vote.
He was below Arce (29.2%), former president Carlos Mesa (19%) and regional civic leader Luis Fernando Camacho (10.4%), with no possibility of winning or going to a possible second round.
Áñez assumed command in November 2019, after Morales’ resignation due to a strong social upheaval.
He promised to lead a transitional government in order to call new elections in 2020, but in January he announced his candidacy, a decision that was widely criticized by his adversaries and some allies.
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