Bolivias left wing President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum Sunday on whether he should continue in power, BBC online reports Monday.
Unofficial results gave Mr Morales a convincing win, and he promised to continue his reforms, including the nationalisation of key industries. But four of six opposition governors, who have led protests against the president and are demanding more autonomy, also won the right to stay in office.
Unofficial exit polls said Mr Morales had won more than 60 per cent of the vote. In all, eight governors were subject to recall votes, and five of them were victorious, according to early projections. One of Mr Morales fiercest opponents, the Santa Cruz governor Ruben Costas, celebrated his referendum victory in front of supporters who chanted “Autonomy, autonomy”.
Bolivia has become increasingly divided between rich and poor, east and west, over the presidents plans to radically reorganise the way the country is run, and the result leaves Bolivia as polarised as ever, correspondents say.
Mr Morales wants to give poor and indigenous communities and women a greater voice, and he wants to redistribute land in what is South Americas poorest country.
But many in the gas-rich east of the country oppose the presidents proposals and resent the central government cutting their share of gas revenues.
