Overview

• Paz defeated former president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga with roughly 54.4–54.5% of the vote in Sunday’s second round.
• The result signals a break from the Movimiento al Socialismo’s long dominance since 2006, after internal splits weakened the party.
• Bolivia’s downturn stems largely from a collapse in natural gas exports that has tightened access to dollars and produced long lines for fuel.
• Paz campaigned on a “Capitalismo per tutti” program featuring accessible credit, tax incentives, and fewer import barriers to revive formal activity.
• He elevated ex-police officer and anti-corruption figure Edman “Capitán” Lara as running mate and, after winning, called for reconciliation and a more outward-looking Bolivia.