American 'nightmare' favored in Bolivia vote

LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) -- Bolivians go to the polls on Sunday and may choose this Andean nation's first Indian president -- a lawmaker and coca-leaf farm leader who calls his leftist movement "a nightmare for the U.S."

Evo Morales, an admirer of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, is expected to take the most votes -- 34 percent. If Congress upholds the outcome he will join a new generation of leftists in power in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Massive street protests in Bolivia have forced out two presidents in the past three years, and the country is split between the conflicting demands of the disenfranchised Indian majority and the ruling European-descended elite.

Washington considers Morales an enemy in its anti-drug fight in Bolivia, the third biggest cocaine-producing nation after Colombia and Peru.

Morales wants to legalize coca-leaf growing for traditional uses such as tea, and pledges to nationalize the country's rich natural gas resources, which he says is the best way to develop South America's poorest country.

Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, seen taking second place with about 29 percent of votes, promises to keep Bolivia on a free-market course and support U.S. coca eradication policies.

Before the vote Bolivians worried the country would return to chaos no matter who wins, because they see no quick resolution to the landlocked country's complex problems.

Interim President Eduardo Rodriguez made a national address on Saturday night asking the losers to respect the outcome.

"They must answer to the people with maturity and responsibility," he said.

Under Bolivian law, Congress, which will also be renewed in Sunday's election, will choose the new president on January 9 if no one takes more than 50 percent of the vote.

That hands a key role to cement magnate Samuel Doria, the candidate expected to take third place and throw his party's support behind either Morales or Quiroga.

Given inevitable congressional horse trading over the outcome, the president is likely to take office in January with a weak mandate after a campaign marked by polarization, mud-slinging and fear-mongering.

"The elections should be, above all, an opportunity to make sure the next government, whoever wins, lasts five years," said La Razon newspaper in an editorial on Saturday.

Among the pressing issues facing a new leader is to call a national assembly to reform the constitution, a process that may give Indian communities direct representation in Congress. More than half of Bolivia's 9.4 million people are Indian.

Constitutional reform clashes with a movement from the wealthy eastern province of Santa Cruz, which is pushing for greater autonomy and control over the huge natural gas fields that lie there.

A new leader will also have to decide how to develop the second biggest natural gas reserves in South America after a new law in May raised taxes to 50 percent of production on the foreign companies that produce natural gas here.

On Sunday alcohol sales are prohibited, businesses will close, and only vehicles with special permits are allowed to circulate. Some 50,000 police and soldiers will guard polling stations, and 200 foreign observers will monitor voting to make sure election law is followed.

Voting is obligatory for Bolivian adults, who need the electoral card given at the polling station for banking and government paperwork.

Up to 20 percent of voters were undecided or planned to cast blank ballots, according to the most recent polls.