MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Another chance for Bolivian presidential hopeful

Bolivian Congressman and peasant leader Evo Morales who finished second in the 2002 presidential race announced officially Sunday that he would seek Bolivia's presidency in December 4 general elections.

"Now it can be said that I'm a candidate for the presidency" said Mr. Morales after his proclamation in a peasants assembly in Cochabamba, adding that coca growers reached "a consensus to fully participate in the elections to win, and change the market oriented policies currently imposed in Bolivia. And this time they won't loose".

Mr. Morales who is the leader of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), one of the groups with largest Congressional representation lost the tight presidential election three years ago to Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, following a centre/centre right agreement in Congress.

However Mr. Sanchez de Lozada was forced to resign in October 2003 amid a wave of protests in which 60 people died. He was replaced by Carlos Mesa, who was also ousted in July incapable of solving the hydrocarbons bill controversy which triggered a general strike and blocking of national routes. La Paz newspaper La Prensa published Sunday a public opinion poll showing a virtual tie between Mr. Morales, businessman Samuel Doria Medina and former President Jorge Quiroga, who ruled Bolivia from 2001 to 2002.

The poll conducted by Franz Tamayo University in the cities of La Paz and El Alto, shows Mr. Doria Medina with 15.2% support among potential voters, Mr. Morales 14.8% percent and Mr. Quiroga 13.8%.

Nest December 4 besides voting for a president Bolivians will be electing a new congress and the governors of the nine regions which until now were directly named by the Executive.

Mr. Morales has a strong popular backing from peasants and poor city dwellers but unless he managed a clear majority a coalition at Congressional level could again frustrate his presidential ambition.

The peasant leader who was the mastermind behind the protests that finished with two presidents has been accused of receiving assistance from Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez by conservative groups in Bolivia.