Bolivian president appoints new legislative leaders

Bolivian President Evo Morales Thursday endorsed the appointments of new parliamentary leaders for the 2014-2015 legislative term. During a meeting earlier in the day, Morales and legislators from the ruling Movement for Socialism party agreed to appoint Marcelo Elio as president of the 130-seat Chamber of Deputies and Eugenio Rojas as president of the 36-seat Senate. "I have been appointed as the president of the Chamber of Deputies," Elio, head of the parliament's commission for planning, economic and financial policies, told reporters after the meeting. Morales reviewed the profile of every candidate before making the final decision, he said. The new legislative term will begin on Jan. 22 with an address by the president when he enters the final year of his second presidential term. Morales is expected to seek reelection in October when Bolivia kicks off the 2014 presidential elections.