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Paz and Quiroga Advance to Bolivia Runoff as MAS Misses Second Round for First Time

A severe economic crunch, paired with an unusually high null vote share, reshaped the race.

Vue aérienne montrant un panneau d'affichage faisant la promotion de l'élection présidentielle, à La Paz le 16 août 2025, à la veille des élections générales.
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Des policiers boliviens gardent un bâtiment du Tribunal suprême électoral (TSE) avant l'élection présidentielle, à La Paz le 16 août 2025.

Overview

  • Official tallies from the electoral tribunal show Rodrigo Paz with about 32.1% and Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga with 26.8%, sending the contest to a 19 October runoff.
  • The governing Movement Toward Socialism and other left candidates were eliminated, ending the party’s two-decade presence in Bolivia’s final round.
  • Businessman Samuel Doria Medina, previously leading in polls, finished third with roughly 19.8% and has publicly endorsed Paz.
  • Null ballots reached 19.3% after Evo Morales urged supporters to invalidate votes, even as OAS and EU observers reported a calm election day without major incidents.
  • Voters cast ballots under acute economic strain marked by dollar and fuel shortages and annual inflation near 25%.