Wednesday's front page of Bolivian daily El Debershows festivities in Santa Cruz after a constitutional reform was defeated, the first ever national setback for popular President Evo Morales. "The "No" wins and blocks Evo's quest to govern until 2025," reads the headline.
The vote took place Sunday, with final results tallied on Tuesday showing that 51% of voters rejected the proposed reform which would have allowed Morales to seek a fourth term, and run in the 2019 election. The result also prevents Vice President Alvaro Garcia from running again.
Since he was first elected in 2006, Morales — Bolivia's first indigenous president — has been credited with significantly reducing poverty in the country. But his Movement For Socialism party has recently been hit by a series of scandals. Shortly before Sunday's referendum, Morales was accused of being involved in a case of influence-peddling, reports El Diario.
