office_contested bolivian general election
Juan Evo Morales Ayma ( born October 26 , 1959 ), popularly known as Evo , is a Bolivian politician and cocalero activist who has served as ___MASK59___ since 2006 . Widely regarded as the country ' s first president to come from the indigenous population , his administration has focused on the implementation of leftist policies through authoritarian means , poverty reduction , and combating the alleged influence of the United States and multinational corporations in Bolivia . A self - declared Marxist - Leninist , Morales is the head of the Movement for Socialism ( MAS ) party . Born to an Aymara family of subsistence farmers in Isallawi , Orinoca Canton , Morales undertook a basic education before mandatory military service , in 1978 moving to Chapare Province . Growing coca and becoming a trade unionist , he rose to prominence in the " campesino " (" rural laborers ") union , campaigning against U . S . and Bolivian attempts to eradicate coca as a part of the War on Drugs , which he denounced as an imperialist violation of indigenous Andean culture . He repeatedly engaged in anti - government , violent direct action protests , resulting in multiple arrests . Morales entered electoral politics in 1995 , became the leader of the MAS and was elected to Congress . His campaign focused on issues affecting indigenous and poor communities , advocating land reform and redistribution of gas wealth . He gained increased visibility through the Cochabamba protests and gas conflict . In 2002 he was expelled from Congress for encouraging protesters , although he came second in that year ' s presidential election . Once elected in 2005 , Morales increased taxation on the hydrocarbon industry to bolster social spending , emphasising projects to combat illiteracy , poverty , racism , and sexism . Vocally criticizing neoliberalism and reducing dependence on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund , his administration oversaw strong economic growth while following a policy termed " Evonomics " which sought to move from a liberal economic approach to a mixed economy . Scaling back U . S . influence in the country , he built relationships with authoritarian leftist governments in the Latin American pink tide and signed Bolivia into the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas . Attempting to moderate the left - indigenous activist community , his administration also opposed the autonomist demands of Bolivia ' s eastern provinces . Winning a recall referendum in 2008 , he instituted a new constitution that established Bolivia as a plurinational state and was re - elected in 2009 . His second term witnessed the continuation of leftist policies and Bolivia ' s joining of the Bank of the South and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States . After becoming the world ' s oldest professional footballer by signing to a Bolivian team , he was again reelected in the 2014 general election . Morales has become known for making colorful remarks during official events . These statements have been termed by locals as " Evadas ." Among the most colorful are Morales ' claim that male pattern baldness and homosexuality are caused by eating chicken infused with female hormones , and that whenever he arrives at a rural village " all the women get pregnant , and their bellies say ' Evo fulfills .'" Morales has been praised for significantly reducing poverty and illiteracy in Bolivia and has been internationally decorated with various awards . His supporters have lauded him as a champion of indigenous rights , anti - imperialism , and environmentalism . Alternately , a number of leftist , indigenous , and environmentalist critics have accused him of failing to live up to many of his espoused values , while right - wing opponents have accused him of being excessively radical and authoritarian and claimed that his defence of coca contributes to illegal cocaine production . General elections were held in Bolivia on 30 June 2002 . As no candidate for the presidency received over 50 % of the vote , the National Congress was required to elect a ___MASK35___ . Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was elected with 84 votes to the 43 received by Evo Morales . The " International Monetary Fund " ( IMF ) is an international organization headquartered in Washington , D . C ., of " 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation , secure financial stability , facilitate international trade , promote high employment and sustainable economic growth , and reduce poverty around the world ." Formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference primarily by the ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes , it came into formal existence in 1945 with 29 ___MASK52___ countries and the goal of reconstructing the international payment system . It now plays a central role in the management of balance of payments difficulties and international financial crises . Countries contribute funds to a pool through a quota system from which countries experiencing balance of payments problems can borrow money . , the fund had SDR 477 billion ( about $ 668 billion ). The ___MASK35___ of the Plurinational State of Bolivia or ___MASK59___ , is head of state and head of government of Bolivia . According to the current Constitution , the president is elected by popular vote to a five - year term , renewable once . Since 2009 , if no candidate wins a majority , the top two candidates advance to a runoff election . Prior to 2009 , if no candidate won half the popular vote , the president was chosen by a vote in a joint legislative session from among the top two candidates ( prior to 1995 , the top three candidates were eligible ). " The War on Drugs " is an American term usually applied to the United States government ' s campaign of prohibition of drugs , military aid , and military intervention , with the stated aim being to reduce the illegal drug trade . This initiative includes a set of drug policies that are intended to discourage the production , distribution , and consumption of psychoactive drugs that the participating governments and the UN have made illegal . The term was popularized by the media shortly after a press conference given on June 18 , 1971 , by United States ___MASK35___ Richard Nixon  the day after publication of a special message from ___MASK35___ Nixon to the Congress on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control  during which he declared drug abuse " public enemy number one ". That message to the Congress included text about devoting more federal resources to the " prevention of new addicts , and the rehabilitation of those who are addicted ", but that part did not receive the same public attention as the term " war on drugs ". However , two years prior to this , Nixon had formally declared a " war on drugs " that would be directed toward eradication , interdiction , and incarceration . Today , the Drug Policy Alliance , which advocates for an end to the War on Drugs , estimates that the United States spends $ 51 billion annually on these initiatives . Cocaleros are the coca leaf growers of Peru and Bolivia . In response to U . S .- funded attempts to eradicate and fumigate coca crops in the Chapare region of Bolivia , cocaleros joined with other grassroots indigenous organizations in the country , such as unionized mine workers and peasants to contest the government . Evo Morales , who became ___MASK59___ in 2006 , is a leader of the cocalero movement in that country . Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro ( 2 October 1907  7 June 2001 ) was a Bolivian politician and ___MASK59___ . He ran for president 8 times ( 1947 , 1951 , 1960 , 1964 , 1978 , 1979 , 1980 , and 1985 ), winning in 1951 , 1960 , 1964 , and 1985 . Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada Sánchez de Bustamante ( born 1 July 1930 ), familiarly known as " Goni ", is a Bolivian politician and businessman , who served as ___MASK59___ for two non - consecutive terms . He is a lifelong member of the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario ( MNR ). As Minister of Planning in the government of President Víctor Paz Estenssoro , Sánchez de Lozada used " shock therapy " in 1985 to cut hyperinflation from an estimated 25 , 000 % to a single digit within a period of less than 6 weeks .