Bolivia holds election for both president and parliamentary seats
Bolivia Heads Towards a Closely Contested Presidential Election
Bolivia is set to hold elections for both the presidency and parliament on Sunday, with two right-wing candidates leading the race. The candidates are Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira and former president Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, who advanced to a runoff after the first round of voting, dominated by concerns over the country's deep economic crisis.
Rodrigo Paz, a centrist-right figure, has campaigned as a unifier, aiming to soften austerity measures while addressing Bolivia's economic collapse. He positions his program as inclusive, describing it as "of all, for all," likely indicating a focus on balanced reform and social cohesion.
Jorge Quiroga, on the other hand, represents a more explicitly right-wing stance. He has promised to overhaul Bolivia's large-state economic model, advocating for change away from the dominant leftist policies of the past two decades. Quiroga's focus is on economic liberalization and reducing the state's role in the economy, which he frames as a victory for "liberty."
Both candidates have promised to lead Bolivia out of its economic crisis by implementing liberal reforms. One of the proposed reforms includes privatizing nationalized companies. However, the candidates have not explicitly addressed the issue of former President Evo Morales' arrest warrant or the allegations against him.
Morales, the former left-wing president, has not been mentioned as a candidate in the upcoming elections and has warned that his supporters would take to the streets if a right-wing government comes to power. The justice system accuses Morales of having a relationship with a minor.
The election runoff is set for October 19, 2025. The election is predicted to favor the two right-wing candidates, with Paz and Quiroga running a close race. The economic crisis in Bolivia is a key issue in the upcoming elections, with both candidates emphasizing the need to tackle it but proposing different pathways: Paz suggests a moderate, unifying approach with some austerity softening, while Quiroga calls for a bold overhaul towards a smaller, more market-oriented state role.
The Commission, amidst the heat of the closely contested presidential election in Bolivia, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks arising from the use of dangerous substances, as the economic collapse in the country takes its toll on multiple sectors. This push for a safer work environment could potentially foster debate in the realm of politics and general-news, as the candidates, Rodrigo Paz Pereira and Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, grapple with various social and economic issues.
