Bolivia Prepares for Presidential Run-off
Bolivia is set to move away from nearly twenty years of socialism in Sunday’s presidential run-off where former conservative President Jorge Quiroga faces Senator Rodrigo Paz. This election will determine the country’s next president for a five-year term, succeeding the retiring socialist President Luis Arce, whose term ends on November 8.
For nearly two decades, the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party has dominated Bolivia, starting with former president Evo Morales, who has faced legal issues and accusations of dictatorship. Morales’s successor, President Arce, will not seek re-election, and this has divided the MAS, leading to significant losses in August’s general election. The party not only lost the presidency but saw its representation in Congress drastically reduced.
In the August election, Senator Paz garnered 32% of the votes, while Quiroga followed with 26.7%. None secured a majority, prompting a run-off election set for October 19. This system was established by MAS in the 2009 constitution. In the first round, MAS’s former minister received only about 3% of votes, reflecting a drastic decline in party support.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently facilitated a meeting between President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei. Both candidates in the run-off have expressed intentions to forge strong relationships with the U.S., highlighting a shift from the previous anti-American sentiment of the past two decades.
Recent polling indicates that Quiroga has gained significant traction, with 44.9% of respondents favoring him, against 36.5% for Paz, leaving 9.3% undecided. Interestingly, Paz achieved unexpected success in the first round despite earlier predictions.
The campaign quiet period has begun, restricting all electoral activities. Despite their differing approaches, both candidates acknowledge an urgent need to tackle the nation’s economic struggles caused by socialism over the years.
Quiroga, aged 65, briefly served as president from 2001 to 2002 and has been a vocal critic of MAS’s prolonged governance. His proposals include significant economic reforms, including the privatization of state-owned enterprises and substantial cuts to subsidies.
He has also suggested a bold ownership model for Bolivia’s natural resources, proposing that citizens share in the ownership of lithium resources that the previous government had heavily sought after from foreign powers. “Lithium will belong to each citizen,” he stated, emphasizing individual ownership over government control.
Senator Paz, 57, the son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, aims to present himself as a centrist alternative. His plan involves promoting what he calls “capitalism for all,” along with promises to resolve critical fuel shortages and provide tax incentives for small businesses while alleviating some economic burdens without severe austerity measures.
Both candidates have concluded their campaigns, urging their supporters to consider the future of the nation. Quiroga and Paz are committed to addressing vital issues like job creation and economic reform to revitalize Bolivia’s economy and recover from the impacts of the past government policies.
