Bolivian president announces resignation after weeks of protests
Bolivian President Evo Morales is set to resign following weeks of protests and calls from military members for him to step down in the wake of the country's recent election. He announced his resignation on Sunday, saying that his exit was for "the good of the country" and he will send his resignation letter to Congress shortly.
Following the Oct. 20 election in Bolivia, the results could not be verified due to "serious irregularities," and Morales declared himself the winner. His declaration sparked weeks of violent protests in the country, during which at least three people were killed and hundreds of others were injured. "I regret this deeply," Morales, who one day prior agreed to the Organization of American States's calls for a new election, told the nation Sunday. Several government officials, including his vice president, have also stepped down.
Carlos Mesa, the leader of Bolivia's top opposition party, had declined Morales's calls for negotiations. “I have nothing to negotiate with Evo Morales, who has lost all grip on reality," he told reporters. Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, was one of the longest-serving heads of state in Latin America.
