Opposition Figure-Off against Two Competitors in Bolivia's By-Election

In the heart of South America, Bolivia is preparing for a significant political shift as the country heads towards a runoff presidential election on October 19, 2025. The incumbent MAS party, which has dominated the political landscape for two decades, has been decisively rejected, marking a departure from its leftist rule.

The two candidates vying for the presidency are Rodrigo Paz Pereira, a centrist senator, and Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, a right-wing former president. Paz Pereira, son of former President Jaime Paz Zamora, represents a break from the MAS party and positions himself as a new alternative with a focus on pragmatic economic solutions.

Paz Pereira's political platform centres on opening up the economy and addressing the economic crisis that concerns many Bolivians. He advocates for institutional reforms and a moderate modernization program to facilitate foreign investment.

On the other hand, Quiroga runs on an economically liberal platform, aiming to reduce the deficit in the public sector, implement selective privatizations, and gradually reduce fuel subsidies. As a former president, Quiroga stands as the main opposition figure to MAS and promotes policies likely focused on market-friendly reforms and conservative governance, appealing to voters seeking a departure from the leftist MAS hegemony.

The election comes amidst a deep economic crisis in Bolivia, with fuel and foreign currency shortages, high inflation, and medicine scarcity. The country, one of the poorest in South America, is particularly affected in its rural and indigenous regions.

The presidential election saw incidents on the sidelines, with leftist candidate Andrónico Rodríguez being attacked with stones by suspected supporters of former president Morales after casting his vote. The politics in Bolivia have been dominated by a power struggle between Morales and outgoing President Luis Arce, neither of whom ran for re-election in the current election. Morales is currently facing a warrant for sexual abuse of a minor.

Ethnic affiliation plays a minor role in politics compared to the previous rule of Morales, the country's first indigenous president. According to the 2012 census, 41% of Bolivians aged 15 and above are of indigenous origin, with estimates from 2017 putting this figure at about 48%. Many indigenous people who previously supported the MAS party have announced their support for the opposition.

A change in government in Bolivia could facilitate investments in the exploitation of lithium reserves, as the country holds the world's largest lithium reserves, a crucial resource for electric vehicles and batteries, making it pivotal for the global energy transition.

The runoff election will be a close contest, with initial favourite entrepreneur Samuel Doria Medina being surpassed by Paz's victory. Both candidates have shown openness to cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The runoff election will be a significant moment in Bolivia's political history, marking a departure from the leftist rule and ushering in a new era of governance.

Beyond the economic hardships, Bolivia continues to face issues such as high violence against women and girls, often leading to protests. As the country heads towards the runoff election, the hope is for a peaceful and fair transition of power, leading to a brighter future for all Bolivians.

References: 1. BBC News 2. The Economist

Despite the political shift in Bolivia, the economy remains in crisis, with issues such as fuel and foreign currency shortages, high inflation, and medicine scarcity.
Rodrigo Paz Pereira, a centrist senator, and Jorge “Tuto” Quiroroga, a former president, are the two candidates vying for the presidency in Bolivia's upcoming runoff election.
Paz Pereira's political platform focuses on economic solutions, including institutional reforms, foreign investment facilitation, and a moderate modernization program.
Quiroroga, on the other hand, advocates for reducing the public sector deficit, selective privatizations, and gradually reducing fuel subsidies through an economically liberal platform.
Paz Pereira represents a break from the MAS party and positioned himself as a new alternative to the leftist rule, while Quiroroga promotes policies likely focused on market-friendly reforms.
Other areas of concern in Bolivia include ethnic affiliation, high violence against women and girls, and issues related to education, self-development, policy-making, and legislation.
Education and self-development, crime and justice, general news, and politics are crucial aspects that will shape Bolivia's future as it heads towards the runoff election.
The global energy sector also weighs in on the election, as Bolivia holds the world's largest lithium reserves, a crucial resource for electric vehicles and batteries, making it vital for the global energy transition.
Beyond the election, Bolivia faces challenges in areas such as wealth management, business, career development, and war and conflicts, which will require careful policy-making and governance to address.