Arce's win in Bolivia's election huge victory for entire Latin America: Analyst

The leftist candidate Luis Arce’s win in Bolivia's presidential election is not only a “huge victory” for the working class in the Latin American country, but also for those nations in the region that stand in opposition to US imperialism, says an analyst.

Wyatt Reed, a journalist and CODEPINK Election Observation Delegation member, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Monday, after exit polls from Bolivia's presidential election indicated Arce has won the country's presidential election.

“Of course this is a huge victory not just for the working class in Bolivia but also for those countries in Latin America who stand in opposition to the imperialist policies of the United States government. The great homeland, this sort of dream that so many Latin Americans have of being able to sort of live and develop on their own terms, the ramifications in this sense are impossible to overstate and as you correctly noted it is not just a Latin American issue but also for the world in general,” Reed said.

“It is not often that you see a US-backed coup so roundly rejected by that country's inhabitants and then not only reject it but see those people act upon that feeling, that popular sentiment. It is impossible really to overstate what this means for those countries and those peoples seeking an alternative way forward in the future economically and of course diplomatically as well,” he added.  

Arce, who hails from the Movement for Socialism Party, bagged more than 50% of the vote making him the new president, an unofficial count indicated on Monday.

The big win for Arce ruled out earlier opinion polls that had predicted the election would go to a run-off.

Exit polls signal socialists sweeping back to power in Bolivia with Arce win

Exit polls show Bolivia

He was running against former centrist president Carlos Mesa, who gained second place with some 31.5% of the vote.

In a Twitter post, Arce expressed appreciation for the public support, saying his country had recovered democracy.

"We are going to work, and we will resume the process of change without hate," Arce told reporters in La Paz.

Arce is the heir to former leader Evo Morales.

Ex-president Morales said Arce’s win brings back stability, peace, progress, and freedom to Bolivians. 

Reed further stressed that the election result is a “real, incredible victory” for the working class in Bolivia, adding that the “process of change” promised by Arce means a lot to them.

He also noted that Arce’s win indicates that there is a “massive rejection” of not only last year’s coup d'état that left Bolivia in the hands of interim President Jeanine Anez, but also her mismanagement of the country’s health and economic crisis.

Bolivians cast votes in presidential polls, hope it will restore political stability

Bolivians have begun voting in a presidential election many hope can restore stability to a nation that was plunged into turmoil after a fraught and eventually voided vote last year.

“We have seen over the past year since Evo Morales, the country’s first indigenous president, was forced out of power, a massive economic crisis not seen in Bolivia for decades as well as a public health crisis which was mismanaged every step by the regime,” he said.

“So what we are seeing today is the Bolivian people rejecting all of that and rejecting in effect the coup d'état, which was carried out last year”.

Reed further opined that the election result will be probably “very meaningful” for Morales who is living under asylum in Argentina, adding that he will no longer have to be “forcibly kept” in exile.

Arce's victory is expected to pave the way for Morales' speedy return home.

Arce had been a former economy minister under Morales.

Last year, Morales was ousted from power amid protests against his fourth-term presidential victory.

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