Centre-right senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira won Bolivia’s presidential runoff on Sunday, signaling a major political shift after nearly 20 years of leftist Movimiento al Socialismo dominance.
With over 97% of ballots counted in the preliminary tally, Paz Pereira secured 54.6% of votes, while former president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga obtained 45.4%, the electoral court reported amid nationwide attention.
The electoral court clarified that these figures are preliminary, as Bolivia’s official vote count involves a slower, publicly verified process at polling stations across the country to ensure accuracy.
“Let’s build a future beyond 20 years of economic stagnation,” Rodrigo Paz Pereira told supporters in La Paz, emphasizing job creation, legal security, and respect for private property as top priorities.
He stressed that ideology alone does not feed families, arguing that strong institutions and certainty about the future are key to stabilizing Bolivia’s economy and society.
Paz Pereira mentioned US President Donald Trump, expressing hope for strengthened bilateral relations and energy cooperation to ensure Bolivia’s hydrocarbon sector remains stable under his administration.
A senator representing Tarija, Rodrigo Paz Pereira is the son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, giving him a political heritage spanning decades of governance and public service in Bolivia.
Despite years in local and national politics, Paz Pereira campaigned as an outsider, appealing to voters in regions historically aligned with the Mas party, surprising analysts with unexpected electoral gains.
International observers, including representatives from the European Union, reported that the runoff proceeded peacefully, free from major incidents, signaling Bolivia’s commitment to fair and transparent elections.
Quiroga, who briefly served as president from 2001 to 2002, publicly conceded, stating he contacted Rodrigo Paz Pereira to offer congratulations, even as some supporters protested the announcement.
“Please understand our pain. We would provide evidence if we had proof of electoral fraud,” said Quiroga, affirming respect for the electoral court’s preliminary results and pledging to monitor the official count.
This runoff represents Bolivia’s first presidential runoff in years and the first since 2005 without a Mas candidate on the ballot, highlighting the decline of the once-dominant Movimiento al Socialismo.
Former president Evo Morales’ party fielded interior minister Eduardo del Castillo, who gained barely 3% of votes in the first round, meeting only the minimum threshold to maintain legal party status in Bolivia.
Political analysts attribute the collapse of Mas support to internal feuds between Morales and former protégé Luis Arce, combined with Bolivia’s worst economic crisis in four decades, marked by inflation and fuel shortages.
Widespread economic frustration propelled support for Rodrigo Paz Pereira, whose campaign focused on reforms, debt relief, and promoting private enterprise, appealing to both urban and rural voters dissatisfied with Mas governance.
A controversial social media post briefly claimed, “Masistas are finally leaving!” after the polls closed, highlighting the role of platforms like Facebook in shaping political narratives in Bolivia, though the author remains unknown.
Paz Pereira’s party, the Partido Demócrata Cristiano, won the largest share of Congress seats—49 deputies and 16 senators—but will need coalition-building to achieve a majority for reforms and legislation.
Observers note that navigating Congress will be an early challenge for Rodrigo Paz Pereira, as passing economic, judicial, and anti-corruption reforms requires negotiation with opposition lawmakers.
During his campaign, Paz Pereira visited approximately 220 of Bolivia’s 327 municipalities, including Mas strongholds, demonstrating his grassroots outreach strategy and commitment to connecting with rural and urban voters alike.
He campaigned on a “popular capitalism” platform, promising low-interest loans for small entrepreneurs, debt forgiveness, and legalization of informal businesses to reduce smuggling and enhance government transparency.
Paz Pereira also proposed reducing import tariffs on technology and vehicles to modernize the Bolivian economy, aiming to attract foreign investment while protecting small businesses and encouraging innovation.
Running mate Edman Lara Montaño, or Capt Lara, gained popularity for anti-corruption activism, exposing police malfeasance online and pledging to hold the new administration accountable if wrongdoing occurs in Bolivia.
Capt Lara emphasized stabilizing basic goods, diesel, and petrol supplies as critical priorities, aligning his anti-corruption focus with economic recovery and winning public trust in Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s government.
Bolivia’s severe economic crisis, including high inflation and dollar shortages, remains a pressing challenge. Rodrigo Paz Pereira promises structural reforms to restore fiscal stability and encourage private sector investment.
Another urgent matter is Evo Morales’ legal issues; Rodrigo Paz Pereira has pledged that the law will apply equally, signaling that Morales will face legal consequences if credible evidence supports allegations against him.
Observers note that Paz Pereira’s campaign successfully combined political experience, populist messaging, and anti-corruption rhetoric, appealing to both urban professionals and rural workers disillusioned with Mas policies.
The election outcome also reflects a broader regional trend, where centrist and right-leaning movements gain traction after decades of leftist dominance, influencing future diplomacy and economic policy across Latin America.
Internationally, Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s victory may shift foreign policy orientation, potentially strengthening relations with the United States, boosting energy exports, and increasing Bolivia’s regional influence in trade and diplomacy.
Economists predict that, if Rodrigo Paz Pereira delivers on promised reforms, Bolivia could experience renewed economic growth and modernization, although political fragmentation in Congress may pose implementation challenges.
Voters appear to prioritize practical economic solutions over ideology, signaling that future governments will need to focus on employment, inflation control, and infrastructure development to maintain credibility and public support.
The transition from Mas dominance to a center-right government highlights economic dissatisfaction, political fatigue, and public demand for transparent governance and accountable leadership across Bolivia.
Some analysts suggest that Bolivia’s youth and urban voters played a decisive role in Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s victory, attracted by entrepreneurship incentives, anti-corruption measures, and promises of institutional reform.
Trade unions and small business organizations cautiously welcomed the result, hoping the new government will stabilize the economy while providing incentives for private sector growth and sustainable development.
However, immediate challenges remain, including fuel shortages, inflation, and political opposition from former Mas lawmakers in Congress, which may test Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s early leadership and problem-solving skills.
Paz Pereira emphasized that economic growth would accompany social initiatives, including education improvements, healthcare expansion, and better public services in historically underserved regions across Bolivia.
He also pledged judicial reforms to improve efficiency, accountability, and transparency, aiming to reduce corruption and ensure citizens have timely access to justice in civil, commercial, and criminal matters.
Bolivia’s mining and energy sectors are central to Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s economic plans, with an emphasis on modernization, foreign investment, and sustainable practices to enhance exports and fiscal revenues.
Civil society groups caution that while optimism is high, the government must deliver on campaign promises, avoiding the populist mistakes of previous administrations and maintaining public trust in Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s leadership.
Rodrigo Paz Pereira wins the presidential runoff with a mandate for change, offering a vision focused on economic recovery, reduced corruption, and strengthened democratic institutions for Bolivia’s future.
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