La Paz – Preliminary results from Bolivia’s presidential election have confirmed that no candidate secured an outright victory in the first round, forcing the country into a run-off vote for the first time in its democratic history. The outcome marks a significant shift in the nation’s political landscape, ending nearly 20 years of dominance by the leftist Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party amid a severe economic crisis that has fuelled widespread public discontent.
Two opposition candidates advance
The vote saw a surprising outcome as Senator Rodrigo Paz, of the centre-right Christian Democratic Party (PDC), emerged as the frontrunner with over 32% of the vote. He will now face former president Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga, a conservative, who secured around 26%. Paz’s lead came as a shock to many, as pre-election polls had placed him well behind Quiroga and businessman Samuel Doria Medina, who ultimately finished third. The result represents a major blow to the MAS party, which has been in power since 2005. The party’s official candidate, Eduardo del Castillo, and another leftist contender, Andrónico Rodríguez, received a combined total of less than 12% of the vote, signalling a dramatic decline in the party’s support.
Economic woes drive voter anger
The election was held against a backdrop of Bolivia’s worst economic crisis in four decades. The country, once a beacon of stability in the region, is now grappling with spiralling inflation, a severe shortage of US dollars, and chronic fuel and food shortages. These issues have led to long queues at petrol stations and frustrated citizens, undermining the legacy of the MAS government. Experts point to a power struggle within the MAS between former president Evo Morales and outgoing president Luis Arce, as well as years of declining natural gas production and dwindling foreign currency reserves, as key factors in the economic downturn. The crisis has become a central issue for voters, many of whom have expressed a desire for a change in economic direction.
A new era for Bolivian politics
The run-off, scheduled for 19 October, presents a stark choice for voters between two candidates from the political opposition. Both Paz and Quiroga have vowed to tackle the economic crisis, although they propose different approaches. Paz, who is seen as more of a centrist, has sought to distance himself from hardline austerity measures, while Quiroga has advocated for more drastic economic liberalisation, including a potential return to relations with the IMF. The results suggest that voters are wary of a full swing to the right, yet are unified in their desire to move on from the MAS party. The end of the MAS era signals a new and unpredictable chapter for Bolivia, as the nation seeks to navigate its way out of the crisis and towards a new political model.
REFH – Newshub, 18 August 2025
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