Overview

• President Luis Arce officially announced he will not seek reelection in the August 2025 general election, citing plummeting poll numbers and widespread protests over economic hardships.
• Arce called on former president Evo Morales to also withdraw his candidacy, emphasizing the need for unity within the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party to avoid splitting the left-wing vote.
• Bolivia is experiencing a severe economic crisis marked by fuel and currency shortages, which has fueled public unrest and undermined confidence in the MAS government.
• Morales, who faces an arrest warrant over allegations of misconduct, denies the charges and accuses Arce of using judicial mechanisms to block his political ambitions.
• The August election could end nearly two decades of socialist rule as opposition parties, though fragmented, see an opportunity to capitalize on MAS's internal divisions and economic challenges.