Bolivia polls: Partial vote count confirms Morales' victory

La Paz, Oct 14 (IANS/EFE) Official scrutiny of 42.56 percent of the votes from presidential elections in Bolivia has confirmed the re-election of leftist Evo Morales as indicated by the exit polls.

Results from the counting of the votes was disclosed by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) late Monday, 24 hours after polls closed following technical problems and an alleged threat to the TSE system from hackers.

According to the TSE data, Morales is expected to be re-elected for a third term with 53.7 percent of the total votes polled, while opposition candidate Samuel Doria Medina would receive 30 percent and former president Jorge Quiroga 11.52 percent.

Just hours after voting closed Sunday and based on exit polls, Morales declared victory and said he expected over two-thirds of the seats in the legislative assembly, allowing him to govern without forging alliances with other parties.

If Morales achieves a two-thirds majority in the Congress, he could carry out legal reforms and modify the constitution without hindrance.

Before any official vote count was released, Morales received congratulatory messages from Spain, Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador and the Andean Community of Nations.

--IANS/EFE

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