Date: 18 December 2005
What was elected: President and congress
Term: 5 years
New president: Evo Morales

Situation: Left-wing candidate Evo Morales won a historic 54% of the vote, making him the country's first indigenous president. He has described the election as the beginning of a new era for Bolivia and the end of 500 years of injustice against his people. An Aymara Indian and coca farmers' leader, Mr Morales is a close ideological ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Evo Morales is against US-backed coca eradication programmes and seeks some form of national control over Bolivia's huge gas reserves. However, analysts say he will face serious obstacles as his plans are bound to provoke opposition from Washington and Bolivia's business sector.