MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Vote returns confirm Morales landslide victory

With the vote count almost completed and no prospects of dropping below the 50% benchmark, coca growers' leader Evo Morales will become next January 22 Bolivia's first even Indian president.

Mr. Morales won last Sunday's election by a comfortable lead over his closest rival Conservative Jorge Quesada, but it was in nobody's forecasts such a sweeping victory, (estimated in 54% of valid votes), which eliminates the Congress run off vote. The victory margin is the largest in democratic Bolivian history.

Late Thursday Mr. Morales had 1.514.328 votes, 54% of the 2.801.609 valid votes cast and his runner up, Mr. Quiroga 800.401. Although the Bolivian Electoral Board has to confirm Mr. Morales landslide win, it did admit that at this stage there's no way the remaining votes can change the tendency.

Morales, 46, will be inaugurated for a five-year term on Jan. 22.