We+are+presidents+-+Morales,+Digital+Granma+Internacional

**Digital Granma Internacional, Havana. December 19, 2005**
=**Winner by absolute majority**=


 * • "For the first time, we are presidents," Evo Morales told his supporters**

LA PAZ, December 18—Evo Morales was the virtual winner with an absolute majority in Bolivia’s general elections, according to non-official counts, which could make him the first indigenous president of that Andean country.

Almost all news agencies showed the visibly moved leader of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) stating that his victory would initiate "the struggle for natural resources and to change our history."

"We have already won. Aymaras, Quechuas, Chiquitanos and Guaraníes – for the first time we are presidents," he affirmed to the fervent cheers of his supporters.

Morales called on Latin America’s social and political movements to rebuild the "great homeland" envisioned by Simón Bolívar and the "Tawantinsuyu" of the Inca Empire.

At the same time, he also promised a non-exclusive government that would "never extort anyone who wants to invest in our country."

The first person to acknowledge Morales’ triumph was his main rival in the elections, conservative Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, of the Social Democratic Party PODEMOS ("We Can").

Before the National Electoral Court (CNE) had released official results, tabulations by the Apoyo, Opinión and Mercado de Bolivia companies predicted that Morales won with 51.1% of the vote, followed by Quiroga with 31.1%; businessman Samuel Doria Medina, of National Unity (UN) with 8.1%.

If this information is confirmed, the indigenous leader will have attained the most resounding victory in the history of his country, where democracy was reestablished in 1982 after two decades of dictatorship.

Morales’ MAS would carry the majority of the 130 Congressional seats in the Chamber of Deputies.


 * From: http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2005/diciembre/lun19/52EVO.html**