Rodrigo Paz frontrunner in Bolivia's first-round presidential election. Image: Reuters.
(The Post News)– Centrist senator Rodrigo Paz took the lead in Bolivia’s presidential election late Sunday. The elections signaled a potential political shift in the country. Initially, the preliminary figures had indicated that the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) was heading for its electoral defeat in a generation.
Paz, running for the Christian Democratic Party, secured 32.18% of the vote, establishing a strong advantage over his rivals. MAS candidate Eduardo del Castillo obtained only 3.16%, a result that underscores the party’s sharp decline in public support. The electoral tribunal released these initial results on Sunday night. It’s set the stage for what could be a major transformation in Bolivia’s political landscape.
Conservative former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, representing the Alianza coalition, held second place with 26.94% of the vote. Bolivia isn’t just demanding a new government—it’s calling for a transformation of the entire political system. “This marks the start of a major victory, a profound transformation,” he said, as his supporters cheered around him.
Earlier on Sunday, Quiroga accepted the results, confirmed his spot in the runoff, and congratulated Paz on his strong showing. Outgoing President Luis Arce issued a positive statement recognizing the outcome, declaring, “Democracy has triumphed.”
If no presidential candidate secures 40% of the vote, the election will move to a runoff on October 19. Authorities will release the full official results within seven days.
Paz delivered a surprisingly strong performance that caught analysts off guard. Meanwhile, pre-election opinion polls had placed him at around 10% support. Trailing well behind Quiroga and Samuel Doria Medina of the Unidad Alliance coalition. On Sunday, Medina conceded defeat and announced his support for Paz in a potential runoff.
Morales, who was barred from running and openly criticized the vote, urged citizens to boycott the election. However, his call failed to gain traction. Authorities reported steady voter turnout, and despite earlier fears, international observers confirmed that the election proceeded without major incidents.
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