Bolivia election: Five things to know about

Bolivians go to the polls on Sunday in a tensely awaited presidential election, held in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The vote is a re-run of a chaotic October 2019 election that led to the resignation and exile of left-wing president Evo Morales. As Bolivia's first indigenous leader, he had governed the landlocked gas- and mineral-rich South American nation since 2006.

The vote could open the way for the return from exile of Mr Morales, who alleges he was forced out by a right-wing "coup". The ex-president is not a candidate but his Movement Towards Socialism (Mas) party's presidential pick, Luis Arce, has been the consistent favourite in opinion polls.

Second in the polls has been former President Carlos Mesa, the centrist candidate of the Citizens' Community alliance.

Bolivians will be choosing a president, vice-president and 166 members of Congress.

If on 18 October no candidate succeeds in obtaining more than 50% of the votes or 40% with a 10-point lead over the nearest challenger, a run-off between the top two contenders will be held on 29 November.