Beni special gubernatorial election, 2013

Beni special election for Governor, 2013

January 20, 2013

Nominee Carmelo Lens Jessica Jordan Pedro Nuni Party Beni First MAS-IPSP Front for Victory Popular vote 71,161 60,382 3,606 Percentage 52.27 44.35 2.65   Nominee Ademirzon Algarañaz Party NACER Popular vote 986 Percentage 0.72

Governor before election Haysen Ribera Leigue (interim) Revolutionary Nationalist Movement Elected Governor Carmelo Lens Beni First

The 2013 Beni special gubernatorial election was held on 20 January 2013. The elections were held to replace the interim governor of Beni Department with an elected executive who will serve until 2015. Numerous observers described the election as an important test of political strength in eastern Bolivia: a MAS victory would signal the retreat of the Media Luna right-wing alliance to Santa Cruz department alone; while a Beni First victory would dash MAS political ambitions in the department.^[1]

Prior to the election, Beni had an interim governor, Haysen Ribera Leigue, who was selected by the Departmental Legislative Assembly on 16 December 2011.^[2] Governor Ernesto Suárez Sattori, who was elected on 4 April 2010, was suspended following his indictment for irregular expenditures related to a power plant in San Borja, Beni, in compliance with a Bolivian legal mandate that indicted officials may not continue to serve.^[2]

Early unofficial results, tabulated by the exit poll firm IPSOS, gave Carmelo Lens of Beni First a first-round victory with 52.6%, ahead of Jessica Jordan (44.1%), Pedro Nuni (2.4%) and Ademirzon Algarañaz (0.9%).^[3] While Lens and his supporters celebrated victory, Jordan pledged to await official results. On January 22, Evo Morales and the national leadership of the MAS–IPSP conceded defeat.^[4] Since Lens won more that a 50% majority, there will not be a two-candidate runoff on March 21. Lens is scheduled to be sworn in on March 1.

Final results were released on February 3, 2013 by the Plurinational Electoral Organ (nearly complete results with 997 of the 1000 electoral tables reporting had been released earlier). They showed that Carmelo Lens won 71,161 votes, a 52.27% majority and well ahead of Jessica Jordan's 60,382 votes (44,35%).^[5]

Political parties and candidates

Four political parties chose nominees by the deadline.^[6] They are as follows:

• Front for Victory (Frente Para la Victoria; FPV): Pedro Nuni, indigenous deputy in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly
• Movement towards Socialism (Movimiento Al Socialismo, MAS-IPSP): Jessica Jordan, representative of the Agency for the Development of Macroregions and Border Zones in Beni, former Miss Bolivia (Agencia de las Macrorregiones y Zonas Fronterizas; Ademaf)
• Autonomous Nationalities for Change and Empowerment (Nacionalidades Autónomas por el Cambio y Empoderamiento; NACER): Ademirzon Algarañaz
• Beni First (Primero El Beni): Carmelo Lens, a lawyer and subgovernor of Vaca Diez province. He previously served as a judged and a university docent.^[7]

References

1. Aguilar Agramont, Ricardo (2013-01-13). "Elecciones en Beni, un termómetro regional para las justas de 2014". La Razón. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
2. "Suspendido... Suárez cae en el Beni MNR asume interinato". El Día (Santa Cruz, Bolivia). 2011-12-17. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
3. "Lens derrotó en el Beni a la candidata oficialista Jordan". La Jornada. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
4. "Evo reconoce derrota en Beni". Los Tiempos. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
5. Órgano Electoral Plurinacional; Tribunal Electoral Departamental del Beni (2013-02-03), Elección de gobernadora o gobernador departamental del Beni, 2013: Computo final con control de calidad (PDF), retrieved 2013-02-06
6. "Sortean ubicación de frentes en la papeleta para elecciones en Beni". La Razón. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
7. Paredes, Iván (2012-11-11). "‘Pedro Nuni fue precandidato (como yo) y le gané’". La Razón. Retrieved 2013-01-21.