On December 18, 2005, an indigenous person was elected president of Bolivia for the first time in history. Evo Morales Ayma was supported by 36 native groups, social movements, academic and intellectual circles and a massive popular backing which allowed him to obtain 53.7% of the votes. The coca growers from the Tropic of Cochabamba, better known as Chapare, played a leading role in this process.
