In a historic political shift, Rodrigo Paz, the center-right candidate from Bolivia’s Christian Democratic Party (PDC), has won the country’s presidential election, ending two decades of leftist dominance. Paz is set to be sworn in as President on November 8, ushering in a new era in Bolivian politics.
According to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Bolivia, with 97 percent of votes counted, Paz secured 54.5 percent, defeating former interim President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, who garnered 45.4 percent. Nearly eight million Bolivians cast their ballots in Sunday’s election.
As reported by Al Jazeera, the 58-year-old senator’s victory marks a major turning point for the nation. Since 2006, Bolivia had been governed by the left-wing Movement for Socialism (MAS), a party that drew strong support from the country’s indigenous communities.
Rodrigo Paz’s political and personal background reflects both diversity and contrast. His father, Jaime Paz Zamora, was a former Bolivian President and a prominent leftist leader. However, Rodrigo chose a different path—after earning a degree in economics in the United States, he returned home and emerged as a rising figure in center-right politics.
Paz began his political career as a city councilor, later became mayor of Tarija, and was elected senator in 2020. Following his presidential victory, he pledged to revitalize Bolivia’s economy through tax and tariff reductions, decentralization of power, and what he described as “capitalism for all.”
Source: Al Jazeera