Bolivia’s Interim Gov’t Leader Names First Election Official

26 Nov., Kathmandu : Bolivia’s Jeanine Anez, leader of the interim government supported by the opposition, on Monday appointed the first member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) that will oversee upcoming general elections.

The appointee, Salvador Romero, has ample experience in the electoral field, said Anez, adding that he will serve to “guarantee the coming election process is clean.” According to Bolivian law, the president has the right to appoint one of the seven officials to the court. The remaining six are elected by the Legislative Assembly.

Romero chaired the National Electoral Court from 2006 to 2008, and has worked with the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Also on Monday, Eva Copa, president of the Senate, said legislators “are looking for people with credibility, people with experience.” Bolivia has been roiled by political instability since the existing TSE declared Evo Morales was reelected to a fourth term with the 10 points needed to defeat his closest rival, sparking outrage from the opposition.

Following weeks of opposition protests, with the army and police force taking side with his political opponents, Morales resigned and flew to Mexico, where he had been offered asylum.Anez on Sunday enacted a law that calls for a new round of presidential elections to be held within four months.RSS/Xinhua