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Bolivian Lawmakers Prepare to Call New Elections to End Violence

  • Congress to name electoral officials so new vote can be held
  • Lawmakers from Morales’s party recognize interim president
Bolivian riot police breaks up a massive funeral procession that turned into an anti-government demonstration in La Paz on Nov. 21, 2019. 

Bolivian riot police breaks up a massive funeral procession that turned into an anti-government demonstration in La Paz on Nov. 21, 2019. 

Photographer: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
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Bolivian lawmakers pledged to approve legislation paving the way for new presidential elections in an effort to end the political crisis triggered by the resignation of Evo Morales earlier this month.

The government of the interim president, Jeanine Anez, sent a bill to the Senate on Wednesday that proposes lawmakers appoint a new head of the electoral authority within 15 days so that a general election can he held as soon as possible. Justice Minister Alvaro Coimbra said the first step will be annulling the result of the Oct. 20 vote, which election observers from the Organization of American States say was plagued by irregularities.