Bolivia Ends 20 Years of Socialist Rule as Centrist Rodrigo Paz Wins Presidency

Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator from the Christian Democratic Party, has won Bolivia's presidential runoff with approximately 54.5% of the vote, ending nearly two decades of leftist rule under the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. His victory reflects widespread economic frustration amid Bolivia's worst crisis in decades, including inflation soaring to a 40-year high, fuel shortages, and a collapsing natural gas industry. Paz's platform aims to balance maintaining social programs with promoting private sector-led growth through gradual reforms such as tax incentives and regional fiscal autonomy, contrasting with his conservative opponent Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga's calls for sweeping austerity and an IMF bailout. The election signals a significant political shift for Bolivia, a nation historically aligned with Venezuela, China, and Russia during MAS's tenure, and Paz's administration is expected to pursue economic stabilization and anti-corruption measures. While Paz did not secure an outright majority in Congress, necessitating alliances for governance, his win is broadly seen as a turning point toward a new political and economic direction. Public reaction has been hopeful, with calls for unity and reconciliation following a bitter campaign.