(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Indigenous leader Evo Morales remains the frontrunner in Bolivia’s presidential election, according to a poll by Grupo Ipsos Captura. 34.2 per cent of respondents would support the Movement to Socialism (MAS) candidate in this Sunday’s presidential election.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Indigenous leader Evo Morales remains the frontrunner in Bolivia’s presidential election, according to a poll by Grupo Ipsos Captura. 34.2 per cent of respondents would support the Movement to Socialism (MAS) candidate in this Sunday’s presidential election.
Former head of state Jorge Quiroga of We Can (Podemos) is second with 29.2 per cent, followed by Samuel Doria Medina of the National Unity Front (FUN) with 8.9 per cent, and Michiaki Nagatani of the Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR) with 4.2 per cent.
The remaining presidential candidates are Felipe Quispe of the Indigenous Pachakuti Movement (MIP), Gildo Angulo of the New Republican Force (NFR), Néstor Garca of the Bolivian Workers Social Union (USTB) and Eliseo Rodrguez of the Bolivian Farming Patriotic Front (FREPAB).
In June, a series of demonstrations calling for the nationalization of the hydrocarbon industry and constitutional amendments forced the resignation of interim president Carlos Mesa. Former chief justice of the Supreme Court Eduardo Rodrguez became the country’s head of state, promising to hold a presidential election before the end of the year.
On Nov. 2, the election was re-scheduled for Dec. 18 after a deal was reached to finalize the regional allocation of legislative seats. A constituent assembly and a referendum on the current division of powers would take place in July 2006.
This week, the two main candidates closed their campaigns. In Tarija, Morales declared, “We appeal to the people who want change to support us so we can get 50 per cent plus one.” In Potos, Quiroga said he had “complete confidence” in victory.
In accordance with the Bolivian constitution, lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate select the president from the top two finishers in the event no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of the vote.
Polling Data
If these candidates ran for president, which one would you support?
Dec. 11 | Nov. 27 | Nov. 6 | |
Evo Morales (MAS) | 34.2% | 32.8% | 30.7% |
Jorge Quiroga (Podemos) | 29.2% | 27.7% | 28.7% |
Samuel Doria Medina (FUN) | 8.9% | 9.4% | 13.9% |
Michiaki Nagatani (MNR) | 4.2% | 5.5% | 5.0% |
Source: Grupo Ipsos Captura
Methodology: Interviews with 4,800 adult Bolivians in ten cities, conducted from Dec. 7 to Dec. 11, 2005. Margin of error is 2 per cent.
