Bolivia’s Morales gets go-ahead for next year re-election bid

Bolivia’s constitutional court ruled on Monday that President Evo Morales may seek re-election next year, an official said.

Constitutional court chair Ruddy Flores said the tribunal determined that Morales, the first indigenous president of South America’s poorest nation, could run for what would be his third straight term.

Though only two consecutive terms are allowed under the constitution, Morales was found able to seek immediate re-election because his first term did not take place under the current constitution.

Morales, a socialist and staunch US critic, was elected for his first term -- set for 2006 to 2011 -- in 2005.

But, under a new constitution, his first term ended in 2009 with a new election, which he won. His current term, which began in 2010, runs to 2015.

Morales, 53, would get 41 per cent of the vote if the election were held today, according to a poll released last weekend. His closest rival, Samuel Doria Medina, would get 17 per cent.