Morales must pave way for Bolivias next generation of leaders

BOLIVIAN President Evo Morales won a thumping victory in his bid for a third consecutive term in office this week. With slightly more than 60 per cent of the vote, Morales trounced a fragmented opposition. The dominance of his Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS Movement Towards Socialism) in congressional elections was similarly impressive, taking 86 of 130 seats in the chamber of deputies and 25 of 36 seats in the senate. Some conventional pundits are already asking if the Morales and MAS victories are a defeat for democracy by pointing to the socialist Presidents dedication of his victory to Fidel Castro, the memory of Hugo Chavez and the continued fight against imperialism. These sorts of preoccupations fail to account for what has actually taken place in Bolivia and miss the real challenge facing Moraless next presidency.