Bolivia Senate approves law for new elections without Morales
Bolivia's Senate approved a bill that could open the door to new elections without ex-president Evo Morales, as the caretaker government prepared to meet with protesters to end weeks of unrest.
At least 32 people have been killed in violence that erupted after a disputed election on October 20, with blockades causing severe fuel and food shortages in La Paz and other cities.
The Senate approved the proposed law after an hours-long session that began Saturday morning.
It is now before the lower house, which is expected to vote on the bill. Interim president Jeanine Anez will need to sign it before it can become law.
Among other things, the bill annuls the results of the October 20 vote and allows for new elections to be held.
Crucially, it also bars candidates who served in both of the two previous terms from seeking re-election for the same position. That would prevent Morales from contesting the presidency in the new ballot.
Congress also needs to agree on a new seven-member electoral court, after members of the previous panel were removed for allegedly manipulating results.
New elections are seen as crucial to ending Bolivia's worst political upheaval in 16 years, which...