In the initial round of Bolivia's presidential election, the Christian Democrat candidate unexpectedly takes the lead. - Surprising Lead for Christian Democrat in Initial Round of Bolivia's Presidential Election
In the heart of South America, Bolivia experienced a significant political shift in 2025, marking the end of a two-decade-long rule by the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party. This change was evident in the presidential runoff, which took place on August 17, 2025, and saw a clash between two right-leaning candidates, Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga and Rodrigo Paz.
The 2025 election followed a period of economic instability under the MAS regime, with soaring inflation and shortages causing public discontent. The exclusion of Evo Morales, the former president, from running again fractured the traditional left-wing vote, leading to a weakened MAS presence and a split vote.
Jorge Quiroga, a former president (2001–2002), ran as a right-wing candidate under the Freedom and Democracy party. He campaigned on promises of "harsh austerity" and dismantling the socialist economic model to transform Bolivia’s economy. Quiroga, who completed the presidency after Hugo Banzer resigned due to illness, presented himself as the candidate for significant economic reform after decades of leftist policies, appealing to voters desiring change from MAS governance.
On the other hand, Luis Arce, the MAS candidate and current president since 2020, chose not to run for reelection in 2025, leading to a weakened MAS presence and a split left vote. The MAS party was divided and weakened, partly due to Arce’s and Morales’s rivalry, resulting in candidates from MAS factions polling low and failing to reach the runoff.
The runoff was between Rodrigo Paz (center-right Christian Democrat) and Jorge Quiroga (right-wing coalition). Paz, surprisingly leading in the first round with about 32.1%, was viewed as a moderate reformer, while Quiroga represented a more aggressive right-wing alternative. The election reflected a major political realignment in Bolivia after unrest and economic struggles under the MAS regimes.
The election took place amidst a severe economic crisis, with inflation nearly 25% and shortages of fuel and foreign currency. Voting was mandatory for nearly eight million citizens in the Bolivian presidential election. Businessman and millionaire Samuel Doria Medina was considered a front-runner but was eliminated from the election.
The election results marked a historic shift potentially ending two decades of socialist rule under the MAS party. The exact outcome of the runoff is yet to be announced, but the election has already signaled a rightward political shift in Bolivia.
[1] The Economist. (2025). Bolivia's right-leaning candidates face off in presidential runoff. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/americas/2025/08/17/bolivias-right-leaning-candidates-face-off-in-presidential-runoff
[2] BBC News. (2025). Bolivia election: Right-wing candidates face off in runoff. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57669198
[3] Reuters. (2025). Bolivia's Quiroga leads right-wing charge in presidential election. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/bolivias-quiroga-leads-right-wing-charge-presidential-election-2025-07-06/
[4] The Guardian. (2025). Bolivia's Luis Arce won't run for reelection in 2025, weakening leftist party. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/01/bolivias-luis-arce-wont-run-for-reelection-in-2025-weakening-leftist-party
[5] Al Jazeera. (2025). Bolivia's Luis Arce won't run for reelection in 2025, weakening leftist party. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/1/bolivias-luis-arce-wont-run-for-reelection-in-2025-weakening-leftist-party
- The European Parliament is urged to adopt comprehensive policies addressing migration from war-and-conflicts zones, particularly in South America, looking at the political shift in Bolivia as a case study.
- Amidst the political realignment in Bolivia following the presidential race, there is a rising concern about potential increases in crime-and-justice rates, given the right-wing candidates' tough approaches to policing.
- Observers suggest that the economic instability faced by Bolivia under the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party could be related to factors such as car-accidents and fires causing damage to infrastructure, as government resources were diverted away from public services.
- Policy-and-legislation debates in the European Parliament focus on Bolivia's presidential election results, emphasizing the need for democratic stability and economic reform in response to the rightward political shift in the country.
- As the election season winds down, general-news outlets report warning signs of increased accidents due to stressed driving conditions in Bolivia, where anxious citizens rush to vote in the presidential runoff.
