by Our Foreign Desk

MEMBERS of Bolivia’s legislative assembly voted overwhelmingly at the weekend to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow President Evo Morales to seek a fourth term in 2020.

The measure was backed by a 112-41 vote and will now be submitted to voters in a national referendum in February 2016.

Mr Morales is Bolivia’s first indigenous president and he won his current six-year term last year with 60 per cent of the votes.

Global prices for natural gas and minerals, Bolivia’s major exports, have fallen recently causing some economic problems, but the president continues to enjoy popularity ratings of about 70 per cent.

He has been in power since 2005, but the amendment discounts his first two terms as those elections took place under a previous constitution.

Mr Morales, in New York to take part in the UN general assembly development summit, welcomed the legislative assembly vote.

“It’s the feeling of the people, even of congress, I understand perfectly. I’m not trying to stay in power forever.”

Mr Morales has said that he wants to complete his government’s patriotic agenda by addressing on 13 pillars of action by 2025.

They include the eradication of extreme poverty, ensuring health and education for all and ensuring Bolivia has an independent financial system and national control over food production and the exploitation of national resources.

Above all, Mr Morales, an Aymara, has put the culture and ideology of the Andean indigenous majority at the centre of national life.