58-year-old Rodrigo Paz has won the second round of Bolivia’s presidential elections. The senator from the centrist Christian Democrats received 54 percent of the vote, defeating former President Jorge Quiroga. Quiroga has acknowledged his loss and publicly congratulated Paz.
The incoming president of the South American country faces an almost monumental task. Bolivia’s economy has been in the doldrums for years. For example, inflation rose to the highest level in 35 years last month and there are chronic fuel shortages in the country. Paz has indicated that he wants to strengthen the currently cool relations with the US, partly in the hope of attracting foreign investors.
In the first round, Paz was one of the least known candidates, partly due to his popularity running mate Edman Lara Montaño, he still managed to surprise. Lara is a former police officer with a large following on social media, who knows how to appeal to young voters with his videos in which he tackles corruption.
Morales and the MAS
Paz’s victory marks a definitive end to the twenty-year rule of the MAS, the party of former president Evo Morales. For the first time since 2005, there was no candidate from that party on the ballot paper in the second round. Internal conflicts within the MAS and the economic problems in Bolivia meant that voters opted for a more right-wing course in these elections.
Nevertheless, Morales, who was president of Bolivia for fourteen years and under whose leadership significant investments were made in infrastructure, education and health care, will remain a stone in Paz’s shoe. An arrest warrant was issued for Morales last year for alleged sexual abuse.
Paz has said he will not pardon Morales if he becomes president. Despite the MAS being completely wiped out in these elections, Morales himself still has a loyal following in Bolivia’s mountainous regions. They previously prevented an arrest of the indigenous leader.
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