Bolivia's top electoral body confirms elections as clean, dismisses request for audit

Source: Xinhua| 2020-11-05 10:09:33|Editor: huaxia

LA PAZ, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), Bolivia's top electoral body, on Wednesday reaffirmed the transparency and outcome of the general elections on Oct. 18, dismissing demands by supporters of the runner-up for an audit of the election process.

Opponents of progressive political party Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), whose candidate Luis Arce won by more than 50 percent of the vote, have announced they will go on strike on Nov. 5-6 in the eastern department of Santa Cruz.

"It is important to show the Bolivian people that on Oct. 18, 2020, clean, transparent and safe elections were held, the results of which reflect the will of the people at the polls and that the MAS was the winner," said TSE President Salvador Romero.

Romero ruled out giving in to the demands of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee, comprised of MAS's opponents, noting the system was audited last year after the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed reasonable doubts.

In addition, election observers from national and international organizations, including the Carter Center, the OAS and the European Union, endorsed the results after finding no irregularities, Romero added.

Arce is to be sworn in on Nov. 8. Enditem

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