MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bolivian December 4 elections suspended

Bolivia's Electoral Court, CNE, announced Friday the suspension of early presidential and general elections scheduled for December 4.

The announcement follows the Legislative branch failure in meeting the deadline set by the Electoral Court for agreeing on the redistricting of congressional seats for the future Lower House.

"The CNE is forced to announce that it is no longer possible to hold the general election on December 4, 2005, as programmed, since it can not complete on time all pending technical and operational activities" said the official release.

According to CNE the December 4 ballot demanded the previous reform by Congress of article 88 of the Electoral Code which regulates seats allocation in the Lower House, and which had to be modified in compliance with a September ruling from the Constitutional Tribunal based on the national 2001 census.

CNE spokesperson Salvador Romero said that a new date in December could be fixed but it all depended on Congress which has been stalled for weeks over the issue.

The Electoral Court also pointed out that governors' elections in the country's nine regions, the first ever in Bolivia's history, were also suspended since they are directly linked to the general election.

Congress failed on Friday to hold a crucial session since representatives from the rich eastern regions walked out. Basically the electoral circuit reform means the poor Indian western highlands provinces will loose seats to the rich, pro market economy east.

Caretaker president Eduardo Rodriguez, who took office in June after massive street protests ousted the second president in 19 months, has threatened to quit if Congress didn't solve the dispute in time to keep the electoral schedule on track.

The latest public opinion polls show Evo Morales, a leftwing Indian legislator and leader of Bolivia's coca growers, ahead with 28% vote intention. Former president Jorge Quiroga follows with 22% and cement magnate Samuel Doria Medina 19%.

Mr. Morales several weeks ago claimed that the controversy threatening elections was a "conspiracy" involving powerful people who fear the prospect of victory by his Socialist party.