Bolivia Elects Rodrigo Paz Pereira,Signaling Rightward Shift After Years of MAS Rule
LA PAZ,BOLIVIA – Businessman Rodrigo Paz Pereira has won Bolivia’s presidential runoff election,marking a meaningful political shift after nearly two decades of dominance by the Movement for socialism (MAS) party. Preliminary results announced Tuesday indicate a victory for Paz Pereira, who campaigned on a platform of economic liberalization and anti-corruption.
Paz Pereira’s success represents a departure from the leftist policies of outgoing President Luis Arce and his predecessor, Evo Morales. He secured victory after a campaign focused on economic revitalization, notably appealing to regions that were previously strongholds for MAS. Throughout the campaign, Paz Pereira travelled extensively, visiting approximately 220 of Bolivia’s 327 municipalities.
In a country where an estimated 80% of the workforce is engaged in self-employment or informal labor, Paz Pereira promised “popular capitalism,” including low-interest loans for small entrepreneurs. He also pledged to cancel citizens’ debts to the state and lower import tariffs on goods like technology and vehicles, aiming to legalize and stimulate the economy.
A key factor in Paz Pereira’s win is believed to be the popularity of his running mate, former police captain Edman Lara Montaño, 39, known as Capt Lara. Lara gained prominence for exposing alleged corruption within the police force through viral TikTok videos, which ultimately led to his expulsion from the force. He ran on an “anti-corruption” platform, stating he would “confront” Paz Pereira if he failed to deliver on his promises: “I’m the guarantee - if Rodrigo Paz doesn’t deliver, I’ll confront him.”
Following the announcement, Lara emphasized the need to rebuild the economy, stabilize prices of basic goods, and guarantee the supply of diesel and petrol, acknowledging the current hardships faced by Bolivians.
Paz Pereira also faces significant challenges beyond the economic crisis, including an arrest warrant issued for Evo Morales. Morales, currently residing in central Bolivia, is accused of allegedly fathering a child with a 15-year-old while president, and his supporters are preventing his arrest. Paz Pereira has stated that, if elected, the law would be applied to Morales “as to any other citizen.”
