Morales' presidential candidate holds news conference

Ex-Bolivian Economy Minister Luis Arce Catacora said Monday that he was "honoured" to have been selected as the Presidential candidate for the Movement To Socialism party.

Former President Evo Morales had made the announcement that Catacora would be his party's presidential candidate in Bolivia's May 3 elections.

Morales said the vice presidential candidate for his Movement To Socialism party would be David Choquehuanca, who, like Morales, was a member of Bolivia's Aymara indigenous group.

"One has the right to make his voice heard," said Catacora, speaking in Buenos Aires.

Catacora referred to Choquehuanca, who was a former foreign secretary, as a "great companion."

"Our comrade David (Choquehuanca) has been bestowed with the responsibility of the candidacy to the vice presidency. He is a long-time partner in the party," he said.

Morales, who governed Bolivia for nearly 14 years, resigned the presidency in November when the police and army withdrew support after several weeks of demonstrations that erupted over allegations of fraud in the Oct. 20 presidential election that Morales claimed to have won.

The Organization of American States said its audit found serious irregularities in the vote count.

An interim government took over after Morales left the country and annulled the October election, scheduled new national elections for May.

Many people had expected Choquehuanca to be named the party's presidential candidate.