Bolivian president vows democratic referendum on re-election amendment

Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday that the referendum for the presidential re-election will be a democratic one made by the Bolivian people at the ballots.

There are opposition politicians who question the referendum, but the people's vote will have the final say, Morales said in New York, according to local daily La Razon.

Morales confirmed that he will respect people's decision in next year's referendum. If the public vote in favor of the constitutional amendment then he would be willing to run for re-election again in 2019.

Morales also confirmed that he would not be making a "Yes" campaign for the referendum.

"If the people say 'No' in the referendum, I will accept this and be happy with it," said Morales.

Bolivian Plurinational Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment on Saturday allowing Morales and his Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera to run for the re-election in 2019.

Once the amendment is approved by a constitutional referendum scheduled on Feb. 21, 2016, Morales will be able to stand in the 2019 elections for the 2020-2025 presidency.

Morales has been the president of Bolivia since January 2006 and won two other re-elections in 2009 and 2014 with the absolute majority and two-thirds in the Legislative Assembly. He is the first indigenous president in Bolivian history. Endi