Bolivian President Morales announces his resignation

10 Nov, 2019 20:57 / Updated 1 minute ago

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Bolivia’s President Evo Morales has resigned, shortly after the country’s military urged him to do so. The development leaves the country, which has endured weeks of political turmoil, in a situation of even greater uncertainty.

"I resign from my position as president so that (Carlos) Mesa and (Luis Fernando) Camacho do not continue to persecute socialist leaders," Morales  said during a televised address naming right-wing leaders of the opposition.

Shortly after the announcement his Vice-President Alvaro Marcelo García Linera also submitted his resignation.

Earlier on Sunday Morales announced snap elections instead, giving in to the mounting pressure over the disputed results of the October 20 polls.

The decision followed the release of a preliminary report from the Organization of American States (OAS) mission on the elections, that was unable to validate them, saying it is “statistically unlikely” that Morales secured a 10-percent lead, required to avoid a runoff vote. Moreover, the auditors claimed they had found signs of “clear manipulation” and irregularities during the polls.

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Shortly after the announcement of the snap elections, Bolivian opposition called upon Morales to resign altogether. While he briefly resisted such calls, branding them “unconstitutional” and an “attempted coup,” the President eventually gave in after the military joined that chorus.