In Bolivia, voters have gone to the polls today to elect a new president. Voting is reported to have been conducted in an orderly manner.

Several opinion surveys have predicted that incumbent President Evo Morales is assured of more than fifty percent of the votes and will very likely be re-elected for a second five-year term. His closest rivals, former army captain Manfred Reyes Villa and the immensely rich cement magnate Samuel Doria Medina, are lagging far behind with just twenty percent.

To ensure the elections were carried out fairly, more than 55,000 troops and police officers were put on duty. Bans on the carrying of weapons and the sale of alcohol were also enforced.

An election win would give the left-wing president another five years to carry out his programme of populist reforms. He has already limited the size of landholdings, nationalized the energy and telecommunications sectors, and given more power to downtrodden indigenous communities. The members of these communities constitute his most powerful support.

After one term in office, Mr Morales should have been preparing to step down. However, a national referendum he organised at the beginning of the year overturned this constitutional requirement.

Photo of Evo Moralies during the referendum earlier this year by EPA