Rio de Janeiro, Oct 19, (dpa/GNA) – After nearly two decades of left-wing governments in Bolivia, the South American nation is on the brink of a political shift as a run-off election on Sunday decides the future leadership of the country.
As no candidate achieved the required majority in the first round of voting, Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira from the Christian Democratic Party and former President Jorge Quiroga from the right-wing Libre – Liberty and Democracy alliance are now facing off against each other.
Bolivia is mired in a deep economic crisis, with high inflation, shortages of petrol and foreign currency, as well as a lack of medicines, part of everyday life.
The previous governments of the left-wing Movement for Socialism (MAS) had relied heavily on subsidies for years, which strained the state budget. Rural and Indigenous regions are particularly affected, with social tensions and frequent protests.
Neither former president Evo Morales nor the current head of state Luis Arce are running: Morales was constitutionally barred and is also facing an arrest warrant, while Arce withdrew due to declining popularity.
The two opposition candidates are focusing on economic liberalization and moderate reforms: Paz Pereira aims to facilitate investments and modernize institutions, while Quiroga plans liberalizations, selective privatizations and a gradual reduction of fuel subsidies.
The electoral authority aims to count and publish 90% of the votes on the evening of the election. The winner will assume the presidency in November for a five-year term.
GNA