Sensational Election Result In Bolivia: Christian Democrat Defeats Socialist
- 20.10.2025, 9:48
- 5,354
The end of nearly two decades of leftist rule in the country.
In Bolivia, Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira won the second round of the presidential election on Sunday, October 19, marking the end of nearly two decades of leftist rule in the country. According to the electoral commission's calculations, the candidate of the centrist Christian Democratic Party Partido Democrata Cristiano received about 55 percent of the vote and has an "undeniable advantage," Deutsche Welle wrote.
For years, Bolivia's political life was defined by the confrontation between former President Evo Morales and outgoing head of state Luis Arce. Both represented the leftist Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party.
Pas promises a "government of solutions"
The 58-year-old winner, known popularly simply by his surname Paz, told a rally in La Paz: "Today Bolivia can be sure that this will be a government that will bring solutions. Bolivia will regain its international role step by step." His rival, former President Jorge Quiroga of the right-wing conservative Libertad y Democracia party, has already congratulated Paz, although he noted that he was waiting for the official announcement of the results.
Evo Morales, one of the most prominent leaders of the left in Latin America, could not run for president again because of constitutional provisions, and Arce withdrew his candidacy amid falling ratings.
Crisis and expectations for change
Paz will take office in November for a five-year term. The Spanish-born son of former President Jaime Paz Zamora, who ruled from 1989-1993, inherits a country in deep economic crisis. Bolivia suffers from shortages of fuel, currency and medicine, high inflation and social protests.
The country, three times the size of Germany but with only about 12 million inhabitants, remains one of the poorest in South America. The situation is particularly dire in rural and Amerindian areas.
Bolivia has the world's largest reserves of lithium, a key raw material for batteries and electric cars. Investment grew slowly under previous leftist governments, but now German companies are counting on new opportunities. "Everything is already off to a low start," said Bolivia expert Christina Stolte of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
New course and a cautious rapprochement with the United States
Pas has promised a moderate course, institutional reforms, a gradual opening of the economy and a more precise distribution of subsidies. On foreign policy, he intends to develop pragmatic relations with all partners, including a cautious restoration of dialog with the U.S. after years of cooling under leftist governments.
"We must open Bolivia to the world," Paz said at the end of his speech at the rally, adding, "Long live the homeland, damn it!" - a phrase reminiscent of a famous statement by Argentine President Javier Miley.
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