Rodrigo Paz Pereira Wins Bolivia’s Presidential Election, Ending MAS’s Two Decades of Rule

LA PAZ, Bolivia – Centre-right senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira, 58, won Bolivia’s presidential runoff on Sunday. This marks a significant political shift away from nearly 20 years of leftist rule by the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party, which was founded by Evo Morales.

With over 97% of ballots counted in the electoral court’s preliminary tally, Paz Pereira secured 54.6% of the vote against rightwing former president Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga, who received 45.4%. However, the electoral court emphasized that these figures are preliminary and not definitive. Official results will be released within seven days, as Bolivia uses a two-count system for its elections.

“Let’s keep building a future, a new path after 20 years that have left us out of the economy,” Paz Pereira told supporters at a La Paz hotel shortly after results were announced. He emphasized the importance of creating jobs and focusing on legal security and respect for private property.

Paz Pereira also expressed his desire to build a close relationship with the United States, stating, “To be part of the solutions from November 8 [the inauguration date] onwards, and to ensure that Bolivia does not lack hydrocarbons.”

As a senator for Tarija, Paz Pereira is the son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, who governed Bolivia from 1989 to 1993. Despite his extensive political experience, he campaigned as an outsider and successfully turned the tide of the election. Many analysts noted his ability to connect with voters in areas previously dominated by MAS.

The election also marked the first time since 2005 that no MAS candidate appeared on the ballot, as current president Luis Arce chose not to run. His candidate, interior minister Eduardo del Castillo, secured just over 3% of the vote, the minimum required for the party to retain its legal status.

Quiroga, who previously served as president for a brief term, began his speech after the results by congratulating Paz Pereira, prompting mixed reactions from his crowd. “If we had systemic evidence [of electoral fraud], we would put it on the table,” Quiroga said, indicating his intention to monitor the final vote count.

Bolivia’s shift to the right is expected to impact its long-standing policies regarding coca cultivation, a plant used widely in the country but also associated with drug trafficking. Diplomatic relations with the United States are anticipated to improve, especially following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks about the promising developments in Bolivia.

Paz Pereira’s campaign focused on “popular capitalism