Bolivia: Evo Morales romps to victory

Exit polls in Bolivia show that leftist President Evo Morales has earned a second term after easily winning re-election on Sunday.

Bolivian media report that President Morales gained at least 61 percent of the vote, 35 points ahead of his closest challenger, former governor Manfred Reyes.

Mr. Morales was first elected in 2005 and is the South American country's first indigenous president. Analysts say the victory means he will likely continue leftist reforms aimed at greater government control over the economy and social spending programs for the poor.

Sunday's vote followed ratification of a constitutional amendment earlier in the year that allowed Mr. Morales to run for another term.

Bolivia's voters also chose a new Congress, with polls showing the president's Movement Toward Socialism party well ahead.

Agencies

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