Washington—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, this evening made the following statement on Evo Morales’s resignation as President of Bolivia and the next steps for the country’s electoral process:

“The Bolivian people deserve a peaceful and democratic transition led by civilian institutions. And above all, they deserve a future free of violence.

“I commend the Organization of American States (OAS) for its thorough audit of the country’s flawed presidential election and its call for new elections. Moving forward, I urge an expeditious, transparent and vastly improved electoral process. The OAS role in ensuring a level playing field in Bolivia’s upcoming election is more important now than it ever has been before.

“Bolivia is at a crossroads, and the Bolivian people must be able to count on the international community in the weeks and months ahead. I stand ready to provide any support that I can.”

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