Bolivian Court Allows President Morales to Run for Reelection

Bolivian President Evo Morales in Copenhagen at the United Nations Climate Change summit. President Morales said that the western imperialist states must pay reparations to the developing countries for damage to the environment., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Court lets Morales run for reelection

Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:59AM GMT
presstv.ir

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales has received approval from the country’s constitutional court to run for reelection next year.

Bolivia's Constitutional court president Ruddy Flores said on Monday that Morales could run for his third consecutive presidential term.

This is while only two consecutive terms are allowed under the country’s new constitution.

The court found Morales, 53, able to run since the president’s first term was not under the current constitution.

"The presidential term is computed from the time of the adoption of the new constitution," Flores said.

Next year’s vote will be counted as Morales’ first reelection, under the ruling.

The ruling has sparked protests from the opposition.

Earlier this month, Morales said that Washington was planning to stage a coup in Venezuela, following the election of Nicolas Maduro as president.

Morales, the first indigenous president of South America's poorest nation, was elected president in late 2005 and reelected in 2009.

During his years as president, Morales has nationalized private companies aimed at increasing state control over the country’s economy.

He also pushed for the formation of a new constitution.