Bolivia clears Rodríguez for 2025 vote

Bolivian Senate leader Andrónico Rodríguez has been confirmed as eligible to run in the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for August 17, 2025, according to a ruling from the constitutional court. Rodríguez, a leftist senator affiliated with the fractured ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, faced initial challenges in registering his party for the election. In contrast, former President Evo Morales remains barred from running due to constitutional term limits, despite his calls for supporters to protest for his eligibility.

The court's ruling allows Rodríguez's "Third System" party to participate in the elections, positioning him as a leading contender for the left, according to a recent Ipsos CIESMORI poll. He is currently ahead of opposition candidates Samuel Doria, a businessman and economist, and conservative ex-President Jorge Quiroga.

Morales, who served as president from 2006 to 2019, has seen his political influence wane as he remains in a compound guarded by supporters to evade an arrest warrant. Courts have consistently ruled that he is ineligible to seek another term. His supporters have responded with protests and blockades, demanding his reinstatement amid rising living costs and political infighting that have fueled unrest.

President Luis Arce, once Morales' mentee, has withdrawn from the race due to criticism over economic issues, leaving his unpopular minister, Eduardo del Castillo, as the MAS candidate. The conservative opposition is also fragmented, with former leaders Quiroga, Doria, and Manfred Reyes Villa competing without a clear frontrunner.

As Bolivia approaches the elections, the political landscape remains tense, with economic challenges and ongoing protests contributing to an uncertain future for the nation.