Bolivia is entering a new chapter in its political and diplomatic history following the surprise victory of Rodrigo Paz Pereira in the October 19, 2025, presidential runoff. For two decades, the country was under the rule of the leftist Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party, first led by Evo Morales and then by Luis Arce. Now, with Paz—a center-right figure from the Christian Democratic Party—set to take office on November 8, the country and the world are watching closely to see how this transition will reshape Bolivia’s internal dynamics and its place on the global stage.
Paz’s win was not just a domestic shock; it sent ripples through diplomatic circles worldwide. According to Associated Press, his victory signaled the end of a long era of leftist governance and opened the door to a raft of new possibilities for Bolivia’s foreign policy and economic direction. Within hours of the official results, Israel congratulated Paz, describing his win as an opportunity to "open a new chapter" in bilateral relations. This was a dramatic turnaround, considering that less than two years ago, Bolivia had severed ties with Israel over its actions in Gaza, positioning itself as one of Israel’s fiercest critics in Latin America.
The international community responded swiftly and enthusiastically. On October 21, the United States, along with eight Latin American countries—including Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, and Paraguay—issued a joint statement congratulating Paz. They praised the Bolivian people’s active participation in the election, noting that "the election result reflected the Bolivian people’s will to embrace change and chart a new course for their nation and region, departing from two decades of alleged economic mismanagement." The statement added, "We are committed to working closely with President-elect Rodrigo Paz Pereira and his government to advance shared goals of regional and global security, economic prosperity, and growth that benefit all our nations." (Newsday)
Paz himself has made clear that he intends to pivot Bolivia toward a more pragmatic, market-friendly approach, promising to "bring Bolivia back to the world." In a news conference, he stated, "We will have a fluid relationship and commitments to cooperation and joint work between both nations." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this optimism, calling Paz’s victory "a transformative opportunity for both nations" to collaborate on investment, immigration, security, and other crucial matters.
But while Paz’s foreign policy ambitions and economic plans are making headlines, the situation at home remains fraught, especially for Bolivia’s journalists. The country has long struggled with violence and impunity against members of the press—a legacy that the new administration has an opportunity, and perhaps an obligation, to address.
One of the most harrowing examples came on October 28, 2021, when ATB camera operator Percy Suárez and six other journalists were ambushed at Las Londras ranch in Guarayos province, some 852 kilometers from La Paz. They had been flown in by a local farming association to cover a land dispute that had erupted into violence. Armed men, identified as leaders of a pro-government rural movement known as the "interculturals," attacked the journalists, smashed their phones, seized equipment, and forced them to lie face down on the scorching gravel. "Anyone who moved was kicked, beaten with rifle butts or threatened with being set on fire," Suárez told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Despite being beaten and having his camera dented by a bullet, Suárez didn’t stop filming. His footage remains the only evidence in a long-stalled case that has yet to see justice.
Unfortunately, Suárez’s ordeal is far from unique. On May 3, 2025, Ángela Ninoska Mamani of Canal 35 Televisión Tunari was attacked in Quillacollo, near Cochabamba, while covering protests against plans to dump the city’s garbage on local land. Masked counter-protesters violently assaulted both Mamani and her son, camera operator Dahan Joaquín Vedia. "One man kicked me, another cut my leg with something sharp," Mamani recounted to CPJ. Her son was thrown to the ground and kicked repeatedly. The attackers, led by district official Lucio Padilla, accused the journalists of lying and being against them. When Mamani pleaded for help, Padilla allegedly ordered the attackers to strike harder. After filing a complaint, Mamani said Padilla denied everything and later threatened her if she did not drop the case.
Press advocates say these incidents are part of a broader, alarming pattern in Bolivia, where violence against journalists often goes unchecked and legal cases stall indefinitely. "We journalists do not want privileges. We demand that the law be enforced," said Jorge Medina Monasterio, president of the Association of Journalists of Cochabamba. Suárez echoed this sentiment, telling CPJ, "What hurts most is not the blows we received, but the abandonment afterward. Only some organizations still support us." Mamani, too, remains determined to pursue justice, despite the lack of progress. "I was beaten, humiliated, and robbed, but I’m still standing," she said.
Both cases have been mired in delays and legal maneuvering. In Suárez’s case, three suspects—Nicolás Ramírez Taboada, Martín Tejerina Villalobos, and Heber Sixto Canaza Sacaca—were declared fugitives. The case has seen multiple prosecutors and investigators reassigned, and as of July 2025, the Constitutional Court had yet to decide whether two suspects would be tried in the main court or under Indigenous justice. "The goal is that there be a ruling, favorable or not, so that this case is not forgotten," Suárez said, but according to his lawyer, authorities have blocked the process many times.
As Paz prepares to take office, press advocates are expressing a mix of cautious optimism and skepticism. After years of MAS governments marked by smear campaigns and public attacks on the press, many hope that the new administration will seize the opportunity to reform institutions and renew respect for democratic values. But the challenges are steep, and the skepticism is well-founded. Even Paz’s own vice president has a history of attacks on the media, raising questions about how far the new government will go in protecting journalists.
Meanwhile, Paz’s presidency is poised to mark a dramatic shift in Bolivia’s foreign policy, especially regarding Israel and Palestine. Under Morales and Arce, Bolivia was a staunch supporter of Palestine, severing ties with Israel in 2009 and again in 2023, and championing the Palestinian cause at the International Court of Justice. Now, with Paz at the helm, Bolivia is expected to soften its tone toward Israel and gradually re-engage, possibly through technical, commercial, or agricultural cooperation. This realignment reflects a broader geopolitical shift across South America, where ideology is giving way to pragmatism and economic diplomacy.
Yet, Paz will have to navigate domestic resistance. Bolivia’s public opinion remains deeply pro-Palestinian, and any overt moves toward Israel could spark backlash from leftist and indigenous groups. Observers expect Paz to proceed cautiously, maintaining rhetorical support for Palestinian statehood while quietly rebuilding ties with Israel.
As Bolivia stands at this crossroads—between a legacy of moral solidarity and a new era of pragmatic diplomacy—the choices made in the coming months will reverberate far beyond its borders. For the country’s journalists, the hope is that a new political era will also mean real progress in the fight against violence and impunity. For Bolivia’s allies and adversaries alike, the world will be watching to see just how much change Paz’s presidency will bring.