Background on Key Candidates and Context
The Tribunal Electoral of Bolivia has confirmed that senator Rodrigo Paz and former President Jorge Quiroga will face off in the runoff election on October 19. This marks the first runoff in Bolivia since the mechanism was introduced in 2009.
Candidates and Their Performance
Rodrigo Paz, a center-right senator, secured the highest number of votes in the first round with 32% of valid votes. Jorge Quiroga, a conservative ex-president, followed closely with 26.7%.
The preliminary count had already indicated that both candidates would advance to the next round. Neither received more than 50% of valid votes nor did either secure at least 40% plus ten percentage points over their closest rival, necessitating the runoff.
Historical Context and Impact
This upcoming runoff will be the first in Bolivia since the introduction of this electoral mechanism in 2009. The leftist Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) had previously won all presidential elections in the first round.
The economic crisis, with an annual inflation rate nearing 25% in July, prompted Bolivians to cast their votes on August 17. The left-wing parties suffered significant losses, leading to their departure from government after two decades of rule.
Evo Morales, who governed from 2006 to 2019, and his successor Luis Arce (2020-2025)—now a major opponent—are stepping down. Paz and Quiroga propose alterations to the current statist model established by MAS, including substantial subsidy cuts, tax reductions, and increased free importation of goods.
Other Candidates and Their Outcomes
Andrónico Rodríguez, the most popular leftist candidate, placed fourth with 8.5%. Eduardo del Castillo, representing the ruling party, garnered 3.1% of the votes.
Evo Morales, aged 65, was barred from seeking re-election due to a judicial ruling prohibiting more than one term. He campaigned for a null vote from his refuge in a small town, denying allegations of child trafficking and rejecting an arrest warrant.
The null votes reached a peak of 19.8%, the highest recorded at least since 2002.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the candidates in Bolivia’s upcoming runoff election? Rodrigo Paz, a center-right senator, and Jorge Quiroga, a former conservative president.
- When is the runoff election in Bolivia? The runoff will take place on October 19.
- Why is this runoff significant? This will be the first runoff in Bolivia since 2009, when the runoff mechanism was introduced.
- What changes do Paz and Quiroga propose? Both candidates aim to revise the statist model implemented by MAS, suggesting subsidy cuts, tax reductions, and increased free importation of goods.
- Who were the other candidates and what were their outcomes? Andrónico Rodríguez, the leading leftist candidate, secured 8.5% of the votes, while Eduardo del Castillo, representing the ruling party, received 3.1%. Evo Morales, barred from seeking re-election, encouraged null votes from his refuge.
