Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

Chamber of Senators

Political system: Presidential system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 20 Oct 2019
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: No information available
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake: 36
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 7,315,364
Voters: 6,460,515
Voter turnout: 88.3%

Results

About the election: The 2019 parliamentary and presidential elections, in which President Evo Morales (in power since 2006) was heading for a fourth term in office (see note), were ultimately invalidated. The election commission initially announced the victory of the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) in the parliamentary elections and the re-election of Mr. Morales (MAS-IPSP) as President. Amid allegations of vote rigging, the announcement triggered post-election protests. Opposition presidential candidate Carlos Mesa, who led the Civic Community coalition, rejected the election results and called for "peaceful and democratic demonstrations". Protests involving opposition forces and many citizens demanding the President’s resignation turned violent.

On 10 November, the President resigned and left the country. His MAS-IPSP allies, who would have succeeded him in an acting capacity, also resigned. They included Vice President Álvaro García Linera, Senate President Adriana Salvatierra and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Víctor Ezequiel Borda Belzu. Other MAS-IPSP members resigned from parliament, which reportedly deprived the Senate of a quorum.

On 11 November, the second Vice President of the Senate , Jeanine Áñez, announced that she would assume the offices of President of the Senate and interim President of the Republic as of 12 November. On 14 November, the outgoing Chamber of Deputies and the Senate respectively elected Mr. Simón Sergio Choque Siñani (MAS-IPSP) and Ms. Mónica Eva Copa Murga (MAS-IPSP) as their new presiding officers.

On 24 November 2019, interim President Áñez promulgated the Law on the Exceptional and Transitional Regime for the Conduct of General Elections, invalidating the general elections held on 20 October 2019. Fresh general elections – for both the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and the Presidency – are expected to be held on 3 May 2020.

Note:

On 21 February 2016, a referendum aiming at lifting the two-term limits for the President and the Vice President (introduced under the 2009 Constitution) was rejected. However, in December 2018, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) ruled that Mr. Morales had the right to run again in 2019, upholding the 2017 decision of the Plurinational Constitutional Court, which ruled that the term limits amounted to a violation of Mr. Morales’s right to run, and of voters’ rights to elect him. The TSE’s ruling triggered violent protests. Protesters self-described as "Defenders of 21 F" (21 F , named for the date of the 2016 referendum), united against the re-election of Mr. Morales. He served one term before the introduction of the 2009 Constitution and two terms under the 2009 Constitution.
Number of parties winning seats: 3
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 58.3%

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP)	21
Civic Community (C.C)	14
21 F	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 17
Number of women elected: 19
Percentage of women elected: 52.8%
Women Directly Elected: 19
Other notes on the elections: On 24 November 2019, Interim President Jeanine Áñez promulgated the Law on the Exceptional and Transitional Regime for the Conduct of General Elections, invalidating the general elections held on 20 October 2019. Fresh general elections - for both the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and the Presidency - are expected to be held on 3 May 2020.
Sources: https://trep.oep.org.bo/

https://www.oep.org.bo/

https://www.oep.org.bo/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Separata_Resultados_Nacionales_EG_2019.pdf

BBC Monitoring

BBC

Reuters

www.dw.com

The North American Congress on Latin America (nacla.org)

www.web.senado.gob.bo

www.diputados.bo

New legislature

First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available