Latin American Economy & Business - October 2014 (ISSN 1741-7430)

On 12 October President Evo Morales won a resounding election victory, taking 61% of the vote to secure a third term in office, starting in January 2015 and running to January 2020. Most analysts agree that the country’s exceptionally strong economic performance was a key factor underpinning the popularity of this left-wing but pragmatic leader, a representative of the traditionally impoverished Aymara indigenous community (which makes up about two-thirds of Bolivia’s 10m-strong population). The Morales government now has to beware of complacency and start planning for the day the country’s natural gas boom may come to an end.