‘Yesterday we went to vote, not to choose,’ the leftist leader said.

Former President Evo Morales recognized the results of the Bolivian presidential elections carried out on Sunday.

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According to the Preliminary Electoral Results System (Sirepre), Rodrigo Paz Pereira, the candidate for the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), finished first in the election with 32.14% of valid votes. Former President Jorge Quiroga, candidate for the Free Alliance, received 26.81% of the votes. Since neither candidate achieved a majority, Paz Pereira and Quiroga will participate in a runoff scheduled for October 19.

“I respect the results. We are a democratic political movement. Yesterday we went to vote, not to choose… Humbly, we must recognize the results,” Morales said in remarks to broadcaster Kawsachun Coca.

“This result is a punishment vote against betrayal and corruption. A message for new generations: if you want to go into politics, whoever betrays loses and whoever steals loses,” the historic leader of Bolivian left said, referring to presidential candidates Andronico Rodriguez and Eduardo del Castillo.

The text reads, “Former Bolivian President Evo Morales commented on the spoiled votes cast during the elections held in the region.”

Morales also said the results were also a “punishment vote against the privatization of state companies and against political persecution.” In doing so, he alluded to former President Quiroga, the presidential candidate who came in second place.

Previously, the leftist leader had called for null votes in the 2025 elections, arguing that no candidate represented the Bolivian people. Morales emphasized that the number of null and blank votes reached second place in Sunday’s election.

He also stressed that the percentage of null votes, blank ballots and voter abstention exceeded the percentage obtained by Paz Pereira.

Morales was unable to take part in Sunday’s presidential elections because the Bolivian judiciary has maintained an arrest warrant against him in a case of alleged human trafficking.

Since October 2024, he has remained in the Tropic of Cochabamba, his main political stronghold, protected by thousands of supporters.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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