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Rodrigo Paz Is Sworn In as Bolivia’s President, Ending Nearly 20 Years of MAS Rule

He takes office during Bolivia’s worst downturn in decades, signaling a pivot to international support to tackle shortages and inflation.

Overview

  • Leaders from across the region attended the ceremony in La Paz, including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Chile’s Gabriel Boric, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, Paraguay’s Santiago Peña and Uruguay’s Yamandú Orsi.
  • Paz pledged to “open the country to the world” with a “capitalism for all” program, promising gradual adjustments, lower taxes and fewer subsidies, and cooperation with international security agencies such as the U.S. DEA.
  • The new administration inherits fuel and dollar shortages with GDP down 2.4% in the first half and inflation near 18% to September, according to official data.
  • An initial financing agreement with development bank CAF for about $3.1 billion was secured as part of early outreach to multilaterals and Western partners.
  • Hours before the handover, the MAS expelled outgoing president Luis Arce and said it will ask prosecutors to open inquiries, while Paz starts governing without a legislative majority and must build coalitions.