Rodrigo Paz Wins Bolivia’s First Runoff, Ending MAS’s Two-Decade Rule

Overview

• With 91.2% of ballots counted, Paz led with 54.5% over ex‑president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, securing the presidency according to preliminary results reported by G1.
• This unprecedented second round under the 2009 constitution caps roughly 20 years of dominance by Evo Morales’s MAS, which failed to reach the runoff after a fractured first round.
• Paz campaigned on “capitalism for all,” prioritizing budget rebalancing, decentralization and formalization of the economy while avoiding immediate external borrowing.
• Quiroga advocated a US$12 billion multilateral rescue involving the IMF to quickly restore foreign exchange and normalize fuel supplies, underscoring a stark policy contrast.
• The vote was held during a severe economic crunch marked by inflation above 23%, depleted reserves and long fuel lines; the new president is set to take office on November 8 with international observers monitoring revamped tally procedures.