Former Bolivian candidate declares closet regime
August 8, 1980
La Paz, Bolivia
Former leftist presidential candidate Hernan Siles Zuazo, in hiding since Bolivia's coup on July 17, has declared himself president of a clandestine government, according to a document being circulated here. Mr. Siles Zuazo received more votes than any other candidate in the June 29 presidential elections and probably would have been chosen by Congress as Bolivia's next constitutional president but for the coup.
In Washington, his vice-presidential candidate, Jaime Paz Zamora, told reporters Wednesday night he believed the military government in La Paz would fall soon because of Bolivia's weakened economy.