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SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — A vote for autonomy in Bolivia’s richest state passed overwhelmingly, but opponents claim that absenteeism undermined the mandate of the movement to loosen ties with leftist President Evo Morales’ central government.
Whatever the turnout, the politically charged election appears to have boosted the bargaining power of the autonomy leaders.
Morales quickly invited state governors for negotiations following the balloting.
Early partial returns, along with exit polls by pro-autonomy news media, showed the referendum passing in a landslide. But vote totals and turnout figures were not immediately available Monday.
