Overview

• Preliminary results from the electoral tribunal show Rodrigo Paz at roughly 54.6% to Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga’s 45.4% with more than 97% of tally sheets processed, a trend officials called irreversible.
• Quiroga conceded and congratulated Paz; the tribunal will certify the final count in the coming days and the inauguration is set for November 8.
• The unprecedented runoff unfolded calmly under the TSE’s SIREPRE system with EU and OAS observers present, and participation was estimated between 85% and 89%.
• The outcome ends nearly 20 years of dominance by the Movement for Socialism, as the outgoing government acknowledged the result and Paz framed his win as a renewal.
• Paz, who campaigned on “capitalism for all,” will govern without a majority in a fragmented legislature and faces immediate pressures from high inflation, fuel and dollar shortages, and a large fiscal deficit.