Esther Imonmion
Bolivia has elected centrist senator Rodrigo Paz as its next president, marking the end of almost two decades of continuous rule by the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party.
With nearly all votes counted, Paz, representing the Christian Democratic Party, defeated right-wing rival Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga in Sunday’s run-off election, securing 54.6% of the vote against Quiroga’s 45.4%. The MAS candidate failed to reach the second round.
Paz, 58, emerged as a surprise frontrunner after the first round in August and went on to consolidate broad support from undecided and moderate voters seeking political and economic change.
A severe economic crisis, coupled with infighting within MAS, pushed many Bolivians toward the centrist option. The country has faced worsening fuel shortages, a scarcity of US dollars, and rising inflation, while revenues from natural gas exports—once a key income source—have sharply declined.
In his victory speech on Sunday night, Paz pledged to tackle the nation’s economic challenges, end fuel shortages, and attract greater international investment. He also promised to stimulate private-sector growth while maintaining targeted social programmes.
Running on the slogan “Capitalism for All,” Paz has vowed to ease credit access for small businesses, reduce taxes and import tariffs, decentralize governance, and combat corruption. However, he has also announced plans to cut fuel subsidies, calling them unsustainable.
The subsidies have kept fuel prices low but caused major distortions—fuel has been sold below import cost, leading to persistent shortages and long queues at petrol stations.
Supporters flooded the streets of La Paz to celebrate the victory. “We came to celebrate the victory with great hope of a new direction for Bolivia,” one supporter told AFP.
Paz’s election could also reshape Bolivia’s foreign policy, potentially thawing ties with the United States, which have been strained since 2008 when then-President Evo Morales expelled the US ambassador and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Reacting to the result, the US State Department said it looked forward “to partnering with President-elect @Rodrigo_PazP to restore economic stability, expand private-sector growth, and strengthen security.”
Observers say Paz may seek to distance Bolivia from long-standing allies such as Venezuela and Cuba while maintaining strong trade relations with China, a major buyer of Bolivian minerals and lithium.
Paz is expected to be sworn in later this year, ushering in a new political era after nearly 20 years of socialist dominance.