Overview

• Bolivia heads to an October 19 runoff between centrist Rodrigo Paz and conservative ex-president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga after a first round led by Paz with 32.06% to Quiroga’s 26.7%.
• In an AP interview, Quiroga outlined a plan to secure $12 billion from multilateral lenders to stabilize the financial system and to rewrite sector laws in agriculture, hydrocarbons, and mining to spur private investment.
• He framed the agenda as a “revolución propietaria liberal,” emphasizing individual property rights in land, housing, and lithium to attract capital and trade.
• Quiroga said he would enforce existing arrest orders, including in a case involving Evo Morales, and would recognize Edmundo González instead of Nicolás Maduro while seeking closer ties with the United States and fuel deals with Russia if advantageous.
• Paz, a Democratic Christian senator who drew support from disaffected MAS voters, is presented in reporting as a centrist with libertarian influence through adviser Jaime Dunn, reflecting a broader move toward market-friendly policies.