Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 21 February 2016: Bolivians vote down possibility for President Evo Morales to run for a 4th term

Bolivians went to the polls on 21 February to vote in a referendum on whether current President Evo Morales, who secured a 3th term in 2014, to run for a 4th term in 2019. The proposed changes in the referendum to make a 4th term possible for Morales were voted down by a narrow majority of about 51%. It is a setback for the President that has been able until now to secure victories during general elections of over 60%. The popularity of the President and his party has gone down recently however due to corruption scandals and a personal scandal of the President himself. The socialist Evo Morales is already in office since 2006 and has been praised for improving the life standards and status of the citizens in his country, mostly that of the indigenous populations. On the other hand he has been controversial as well for authoritarian policies. It remains to be seen whether his legacy will endure after 2019, as other countries in the region such as Argentina and Venezuela are shifting away from the left of the political spectrum.