La Paz [Bolivia], October 20 (ANI): Rodrigo Paz of the centre-right Christian Democratic Party (PDC) has been elected Bolivia’s new president, ending nearly 20 years of socialist leadership, reported Al Jazeera.
Paz’s party does not hold a majority in the country’s legislature, which will require him to forge alliances to govern effectively. The new president is set to take office on November 8. With 97 percent of ballots counted, Paz won 54.5 percent of the vote in Sunday’s run-off, well ahead of right-wing former interim President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, who secured 45.4 percent, according to the country’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).
The 58-year-old centrist senator and economist Rodrigo Paz, son of former leftist President Jaime Zamora, studied economics in the United States before returning to Bolivia to enter politics. He has promised “capitalism for all.”
Both candidates pledged to address Bolivia’s severe economic crisis and repair strained diplomatic relations with Washington, which deteriorated during the administrations of labor leader and first Bolivian president of indigenous descent, Evo Morales, and his successor and current president, Luis Arce.
According to Al Jazeera, the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, long the dominant force in Bolivian politics since Morales took office in 2006, failed to advance a candidate to the run-off following a collapse in support during the first round in August. The internal fragmentation of MAS marks the close of a political era.
Bolivia has been grappling with an economic crisis, including annual inflation approaching 25 percent and critical shortages of US dollars and fuel. Bolivians took to the streets to protest high prices and hours-long waits for fuel, bread, and other basics in the lead-up to the August 17 general election.
After the results were announced, Paz’s vice-presidential running mate, Edmand Lara, called for “unity and reconciliation.” “We must ensure the supply of diesel and gasoline. People are suffering. We need to stabilize the prices of the basic food basket, and we must put an end to corruption,” Lara said, according to Al Jazeera. (ANI)
About The Author
