Rodrigo Paz wins Bolivia presidency

Centrist Rodrigo Paz has won Bolivia’s presidential runoff, defeating conservative Jorge Quiroga with roughly 55% of the vote and bringing to an end nearly two decades of rule dominated by the leftist Movement to Socialism (MAS). The senator’s victory reflects widespread voter discontent amid what officials describe as the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation, marked by soaring inflation, a shortage of U.S. dollars and acute fuel scarcities that have disrupted daily life.

Paz, 58, carried a platform of moderate economic reform: preserving core social programs while promoting private-sector-led growth, regional fiscal autonomy and tax incentives for small businesses. He pledged to stabilize fuel supplies—announcing plans for supply agreements and a previously disclosed $1.5 billion cooperation proposal with U.S. officials—and said fuel shortages would end after he takes office. Paz also plans to phase out universal fuel subsidies in favor of targeted support for vulnerable groups, while shifting larger industries toward market prices.

Both runoff candidates campaigned on restoring ties with the United States and seeking U.S.-backed financial assistance to address Bolivia’s economic fragility. Paz’s running mate, Edman Lara, a former police officer who gained popular attention through viral social-media videos exposing corruption, helped broaden Paz’s appeal among younger and working-class voters.

Analysts warn the incoming administration faces immediate challenges: securing foreign currency to import fuel, curbing inflation and forming governing coalitions, since Paz’s Christian Democratic Party (PDC) fell short of a legislative majority. Preliminary seat counts show the PDC leading in both chambers but still needing alliances to pass legislation. Bolivia’s largest labor union has warned it will oppose measures perceived to erode social gains, signaling potential street protests if reforms are seen as too harsh.

The election follows a sharp decline in support for MAS after last month’s first-round vote, and reflects deeper political shifts as voters seek alternatives to the state-led economic model that dominated the country under MAS leadership. Observers say Paz’s victory marks a significant political turning point, but note the new government will have to balance reform with social stability amid severe economic pressures.