Right-wing presidential candidate in Bolivia pledges drastic transformation
In the upcoming election on August 17, Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, a former president of Bolivia (2001-2002), is running on a platform of radical change and economic reform.
Quiroga, a prominent figure of Bolivia’s right wing, aims to end the two decades of socialist rule under the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party. He is capitalizing on the dissatisfaction with MAS's handling of the economy under current president Luis Arce.
The economic crisis in Bolivia is evident, with year-on-year inflation reaching 25.8% in July, the highest since 2008, driven by a shortage of dollars. The Andean nation is currently experiencing shortages of basic necessities such as fuel and food items.
Quiroga's platform focuses on addressing these issues, promising to return economic stability and improve the availability of essential goods. He intends to break from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua in international alliances and change all the laws to attract investment, including in the energy sector.
At a rally, Quiroga, age 65, stated that Bolivia is facing a period of "radical change" to recover from the past 20 years, likely referring to the Morales era (2006-2019) and his successor, Luis Arce (in power since 2020).
Quiroga, a US-educated former finance minister under dictator Hugo Banzer, served as president for one year after Banzer resigned due to cancer in 2001. He was the youngest vice president in Bolivia's history, elected at the age of 37.
In the polls, Quiroga is currently running in second place, close behind centre-right rival Samuel Doria Medina. He has expressed support for the deepest spending cuts and declared that the cycle of the MAS party is over and its time has passed.
The ruling MAS, founded by three-term ex-president Evo Morales, is facing a significant drop in support due to the crisis in Bolivia. If Quiroga wins the election, it could mark a shift in the political landscape of the country.
Sources: [1] BBC News - Bolivia election: Jorge Quiroga runs on platform of radical change [2] Reuters - Bolivia's Quiroga promises to 'regain 20 lost years' of stability [3] Al Jazeera - Bolivia's Quiroga vows to 'regain 20 lost years' of stability [4] The Guardian - Bolivia's Quiroga gains ground in polls as election looms
- Quiroga's platform encompasses a shift in international alliances, aiming to distance Bolivia from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, and a focus on policy-and-legislation changes, particularly in the energy sector, to attract investment and stabilize the economy.
- In the realm of general-news, the upcoming August 17 election in Bolivia highlights a contentious battle between Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, a right-wing candidate pushing for radical change, and the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, which has faced a significant drop in support due to economic struggles.
- Economy, migration, and war-and-conflicts are at the forefront of political discourse in Bolivia, with Quiroga capitalizing on the economic crisis, characterized by high inflation and shortages of basic necessities, to argue for his ability to bring stability to the country.
