Iran ready to expand cooperation with Bolivia under new democratic government: President Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has offered his sincere congratulations to Bolivian President-elect Luis Arce over his victory in the country’s successful presidential election, saying the Islamic Republic is ready to revive relations and expand cooperation with his government.

“In the new era of returning power to the people's representatives, I voice support for your elected government and express the readiness of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to revive mutual relations and expand cooperation with the friendly country of Bolivia in all fields,” Rouhani said in a message to Arce on Saturday.

He added that the recent election, which led to the decisive victory of Arce and David Choquehuanca as vice president-elect, not only strengthened democracy in the Latin American country but was a “glorious” manifestation of the implementation of justice by the Bolivian nation.

The Iranian president wished success for the Bolivian president-elect and prosperity for the country’s people.

The Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday declared Bolivia’s presidential election transparent and Luis Arce’s incoming government legitimate.

Bolivia election transparent, Arce’s victory overwhelming: OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS) declares Bolivia’s presidential election transparent and Luis Arce’s incoming government strongly legitimate.

Arce, who hails from the Movement for Socialism (MAS) Party, bagged more than 50% of the votes, an unofficial count indicated on Monday.

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

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

Arce is considered the heir to former leader Evo Morales.

Last year, Morales was ousted from power amid protests against his fourth-term presidential victory. He was forced to resign in November 2019 under pressure from the military and following the opposition’s challenging of the victory that he had secured in the presidential election.

Bolivia’s Morales vows to return home after ally’s election win

Bolivia’s exiled ex-president Evo Morales vows to return to his country after exit polls show that his former economy minister has won a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election.

The election victory now by Morales’ largely indigenous MAS Party has focused attention on the former president’s return to Bolivia from exile.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday praised the Bolivian people’s victory against America’s “destabilizing plots” following the recent presidential election, which put an end to months of political chaos in the Latin American state.

Iran FM commends Bolivian people’s victory over Yankee Empire plots

Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif hails the Bolivian people over their victory against the destabilizing plots of the Yankee Empire.

In a Spanish-language post to his Twitter account, Zarif said, “I offer my sincere congratulations to the heroic people of Bolivia over their decisive victory against the destabilizing plots of the Yankee Empire,” referring to the US, which supported a military-backed effort last year to topple Morales from power following his re-election.

Read more: 

• Venezuelans hail Bolivians for electing socialist president

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

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