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11h ago

Bolivia Sets First Presidential Runoff Since 1982 as Paz Leads and Quiroga Advances

Voters dealing with a grinding economic crisis pushed the long-dominant MAS to single-digit support.

Running mate Edman Lara has proven a solid choice for VP in Bolivia's presidential race
The rise of Bolivian presidential candidate Rodrigo Paz can be credited, in part, to his popularity on the social media platform TikTok
Bolivian centrist presidential candidate Rodrigo Paz addressed supporters in the capital, La Paz, August 17, 2025, after early election results came in. A run-off vote will be held in October.
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Overview

  • The Supreme Electoral Tribunal confirmed a second round for October 19 after no candidate met the 50% or 40%+10-point threshold.
  • Preliminary results place Rodrigo Paz at roughly one-third of the vote and Jorge Quiroga near 26%, with MAS candidates each below 10%.
  • Paz’s campaign leans on a low-cost, social-media-driven approach, and running mate Edman “Captain” Lara has rallied large crowds in El Alto while pressing an anti-corruption message.
  • The runoff will test contrasting economic remedies, with Quiroga backing tougher austerity and IMF support and Paz proposing tighter spending and hiring freezes without a bailout.
  • Coverage highlights inflation near 25%, fuel and dollar shortages, and Morales-aligned calls for null votes with warnings of protest actions during the campaign.