Overview
- Washington issued a statement with Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago offering help to stabilize Bolivia’s economy, bolster institutions, and expand trade and investment.
- Preliminary results from the electoral authority show Paz won the Oct. 19 runoff with more than 54.4% of valid votes, with final certification expected on Oct. 22.
- Paz is set to be sworn in on Nov. 8 and has pledged immediate relief to fuel shortages, promising fuel nationwide and an end to queues on inauguration day.
- The president-elect promotes “capitalism for all,” deep state reform and decentralization, plus an opening to the world that includes a reset with the United States and renewed ties with neighbors such as Chile and Peru.
- Analysts cite urgent pressures including fuel scarcity, dollar shortages, inflation and an energy crunch—with inflation at 18.33% to September and a 2.4% economic contraction in the first half of 2025—and warn a hard core of Evo Morales supporters could act disruptively outside formal institutions.