BoliviaA Major Surprise from Candidate Rodrigo Paz: Bolivia Will Hold Its First-Ever Presidential Runoff
This Sunday, August 17, Bolivia held its general elections to choose both a president and members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The results confirmed a historic milestone: for the first time, the country will face a presidential runoff. Additionally, the victory of Senator Rodrigo Paz (Christian Democratic Party, PDC) came as a surprise, as he led the race with 32.14% of the vote despite polls placing him in third place.
Paz will face former president Jorge Quiroga (Libre) on October 19, who secured 26.81%. Meanwhile, Samuel Doria (Unidad), who had been leading in the polls, fell to third place and has already announced his support for Paz in the runoff. The left, fragmented and without Evo Morales on the ballot, suffered a significant setback: MAS-IPSP had its worst electoral performance ever (3.16%) and is expected to retain minimal representation in Congress.
The election day was deemed peaceful and orderly by both local authorities and international observers, despite some isolated incidents. Voter turnout reached 81%, the lowest since 2002.
Looking ahead to the runoff, the new scenario presents challenges in a fragmented Congress. No political force secured an absolute majority, although ideological alignment among Paz, Quiroga, and Doria could open the door to potential governance agreements. The next president will take office on November 8, facing the dual task of overcoming a persistent economic crisis and navigating a transforming political system.