Bolivia has completed a dramatic political shift after centrist senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira defeated former conservative president Jorge Quiroga in Sunday’s presidential runoff, securing 54.6% of the vote to Quiroga’s 45.4%.
The result, pending final verification, ends 20 years of left-wing governance under the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party, which suffered a crushing defeat following years of internal turmoil and public disillusionment.
Paz’s victory signals the electorate’s desire for stability and moderate reform after the collapse of the MAS political stronghold that began with the ousting of Evo Morales in 2019. MAS candidate Eduardo del Castillo, once seen as the party’s next-generation leader, managed just over 3% in August’s first round — barely enough to preserve the party’s legal status.
Both Paz and Quiroga campaigned on dismantling MAS’s socialist legacy, though Paz favoured a gradual reform path over Quiroga’s promise of immediate “austerity measures”. Paz’s success was bolstered by the endorsement of business magnate Samuel Doria Medina, who finished third in the first round.
The result cements Bolivia’s turn toward the centre-right and marks a new era for a nation long defined by leftist populism and political upheaval. Paz’s administration is expected to prioritise economic stabilisation, institutional rebuilding, and re-engagement with international partners.
