In a historic turn for Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator and the son of a former president, has clinched the presidency, marking the end of two decades of leftist rule by the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party. The election, held on October 19, 2025, saw Paz win 54% of the vote against right-wing rival and former president Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, who garnered 45%, according to preliminary results with over 97% of ballots counted. The news sent jubilant crowds into the streets of La Paz, where fireworks exploded overhead and supporters celebrated what many see as a breath of fresh air for a country battered by economic hardship and political fatigue.
"Today, Bolivia can be certain that this will be a government that will bring solutions," Paz told supporters in a packed hotel ballroom in the capital, flanked by his wife and four adult children. The mood was electric, with people chanting his name and capturing the moment on their phones. As reported by NPR, Óscar Hassenteufel, president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, declared Paz’s lead "irreversible." Quiroga conceded soon after the results were announced, urging calm and maturity even as some of his supporters cried fraud. "We'd just exacerbate the problems of people suffering from the crisis," Quiroga said, adding, "We need a mature attitude right now."
The campaign was dominated by economic concerns, as rising prices, fuel shortages, and a persistent scarcity of U.S. dollars fueled widespread frustration. Since 2023, Bolivia has faced a crippling shortage of foreign currency, leaving many citizens unable to access their own savings and stalling imports. Year-on-year inflation soared to 23% as of September 2025—the highest rate since 1991. Motorists have endured days-long waits at gas stations, and the country’s economic outlook remains precarious.
Many Bolivians have grown disillusioned with the MAS party, which, under the leadership of Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, transformed the country’s political landscape after his election in 2005. Morales, who spent 14 years in office, was lauded for slashing poverty and investing in infrastructure, education, and health care. However, his controversial bid for a fourth term in 2019 triggered mass protests, deadly unrest, and allegations of electoral fraud that ultimately forced him into exile. His successor, Luis Arce, later broke with Morales in a highly publicized feud, fracturing the party and leaving it rudderless. Barred from running by the courts, Morales refused to endorse any candidate this year and encouraged his base to cast null votes—a move experts believe weakened the left in the first round of voting.
Against this backdrop, Paz emerged as a pragmatic alternative. Though he spent more than two decades in politics as a lawmaker and mayor, Paz was not a household name nationally before this race. His campaign, built around the slogan "capitalism for all," resonated with merchants and entrepreneurs who once thrived during the MAS era but later chafed under heavy taxes and regulation. As The New York Times reported, Paz’s appeal extended to left-leaning voters disappointed with MAS but wary of Quiroga’s promises of deep economic overhauls and a sharp pivot away from social protections.
Paz’s economic platform is a balancing act. He plans to end Bolivia’s fixed exchange rate, phase out generous fuel subsidies, and reduce public investment—moves that redraw much of the MAS economic model. Yet, he insists he’ll maintain MAS-style social benefits and pursue gradual free-market reforms to avoid the kind of economic whiplash that has previously sparked mass protests. Morales himself tried to lift fuel subsidies in 2011, only to backtrack within a week amid nationwide unrest. Paz has vowed to avoid the International Monetary Fund, pledging instead to fight corruption, cut wasteful spending, and restore faith in Bolivia’s currency to coax U.S. dollar savings back into the banking system. Still, critics argue his plans are vague and potentially unrealistic. "It's just so vague, I feel like he's saying these things to please voters when fiscally it doesn't add up," said Rodrigo Tribeño, a Quiroga supporter.
A key factor in Paz’s victory was his running mate, Edman (also reported as Edmand) Lara, a former police captain turned whistle-blower whose anti-corruption activism and social media presence made him a folk hero among working-class and rural voters. Lara, who was fired from the police for denouncing corruption in viral videos, later worked as a lawyer helping Bolivians expose graft. His populist promises of universal income for women and higher pensions for retirees often forced Paz into damage control, but for many, Lara’s authenticity and outsider status were a draw. "He comes from below," said María Condori Nina, an Indigenous shopkeeper. "He is one of us." She added, "It would have been better if he could have been the presidential candidate."
Despite concerns that Lara’s combative style might overshadow Paz’s more measured approach, he struck a conciliatory note after the win. "Today, the people are giving us the opportunity to govern Bolivia, but for everyone. I call for unity and reconciliation among Bolivians," Lara said in his acceptance speech. "It is time to come together as brothers and sisters." Many Bolivians interviewed said they voted for the ticket primarily because of Lara, seeing him as the true engine of change. "Lara is the one acting more like a president than Paz. Many of us think Lara will end up running the country," said Wendy Cornejo, a street vendor and former Morales supporter.
Paz’s party swept six of nine regional departments in the August 2025 vote, including the Andean highlands and the coca-producing region of Cochabamba—areas that once formed the bedrock of Morales’s support. Quiroga, by contrast, won the wealthier eastern lowlands of Santa Cruz, the country’s agricultural powerhouse. According to Bolivian political analyst Verónica Rocha, "There's a very clear class difference. For Quiroga, you have people who've been in politics and in the economic elite for a long time—businesspeople, agro-industrialists. With Paz, it's the opposite."
International relations also played a subtle role in the campaign. While Paz expressed openness toward the United States and met with American officials, his campaign was less focused on foreign policy than Quiroga’s, who emphasized attracting foreign investment and closer ties with Washington. The American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, expressed optimism before the vote, saying both candidates sought "strong and improved relations with the United States" after years of tense, anti-American rhetoric from previous governments.
Paz now faces daunting challenges: restoring economic stability, replenishing foreign reserves, and navigating a deeply divided political landscape. While his Christian Democratic Party holds a slim majority in Congress, meaningful reform will require compromise and deft leadership. His supporters, however, remain hopeful. "We feel victorious," Roger Carrillo, a campaign volunteer, said as celebrations erupted across La Paz. "We know there is work ahead of us but we just want to enjoy this moment."
As the fireworks fade and the crowds disperse, Bolivia stands at a crossroads, its future uncertain but its people united—at least for now—by a desire for change and renewal.
