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Bolivia's President Wins Landslide Re-Election

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Unofficial results showes Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, taking at least 63 percent of the votes

Bolivian President Evo Morales has won a landslide re-election victory in Sunday's presidential vote.

Unofficial results showed Mr. Morales taking at least 63 percent of the votes, more than 35 percentage points ahead of his closest challenger, former governor Manfred Reyes.

Mr. Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous president. He was first elected in 2005. Analysts say the victory means he will likely continue leftist reforms aimed at greater government control over the economy and social spending programs for the poor.

Speaking from the balcony of the presidential palace Sunday night, Mr. Morales told supporters the process of change had prevailed.

The election followed the ratification of a constitutional amendment earlier in the year that allowed Mr. Morales to run for another term.

Bolivian voters also chose a new Congress. Unofficial results showed President Morales' Movement Toward Socialism party easily winning a majority in both Bolivia's Senate and lower house.

Mr. Morales will have the numbers in Congress to pass legislation without negotiating with the opposition.

During his first term, the leftist leader, who is a vocal U.S. critic, nationalized key sectors of Bolivia's economy, including mining and energy.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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