LA PAZ, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on Wednesday officially certified Luis Arce as president-elect for the 2020-2025 presidential term.
The TSE presented Arce with the credentials that certify him winner of the Oct. 18 presidential elections, at a ceremony in La Paz.
TSE President Salvador Romero described the elections as "the most complex" modern-day Bolivia has ever seen due to the heightened political tensions between Arce's progressive Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party and the conservative opposition.
"Today, with the presentation of the credentials to the elected president and vice president, we conclude the most complex election in the democratic history of the country," said Romero.
The "socio-political and regional tensions" were compounded by the novel coronavirus pandemic, which led to the elections being postponed, further aggravating the atmosphere of contention, he added.
On a more positive note, he said election-day turnout was high, with some 88 percent of eligible voters going to the polls, the second highest voter turnout on record.
Arce later thanked the Bolivian people for their support, in a message posted on Twitter.
"I received the credential that accredits me as president-elect of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. I ratify my commitment to work and love for the homeland. Thanks to the Bolivian people for their trust," Arce wrote.
On Oct. 23, the TSE declared Arce the winner with 55.1 percent of the votes in the general elections. Enditem
