Bolivia returns to the polls this Sunday to elect its president and vice president for the first time in its history in a second round to be contested by the centrist senator Rodrigo Paz and the former conservative president Jorge Quiroga and that will also mean a new political and economic cycle after 20 years of the left in power. Paz and Quiroga (2001-2002) were the two candidates with the most votes in the general elections held on August 17, in which the national Parliament was also renewed for the next five-year period, although neither obtained enough percentage to be declared the winner in the first round.
In the August vote, the centrist senator, who is running for the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), obtained 32.06% and the former conservative president, who represents the alliance Freeachieved 26.70%.
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LOOK: Elections in Bolivia 2025: latest news from the second round between Rodrigo Paz and Jorge Quiroga
The second round It was introduced into Bolivian regulations through the Constitution that has been in force since 2009 in the country and which indicates that “the candidacy” that obtains more than 50% of the valid votes or a minimum of 40% with at least ten points of advantage over the next candidate will be proclaimed for the Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
This October 19 will be the first time that this mechanism is used to settle a presidential election and the pair that obtains “the majority of the votes” will be proclaimed the winner.
Bolivia’s presidential candidate for the Freedom and Democracy Alliance (Libre), Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, delivers a speech during his campaign closing rally in La Paz on October 15, 2025. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP).
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Polls show Quiroga as the favorite, although Paz has questioned the effectiveness of these studies because in the first round they initially showed him in the last places, but it ended up being the revelation of that vote.
Both candidates promise immediate actions to get Bolivia out of the economic crisis in which it is miredQuiroga with an injection of dollars for which he will turn to organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Paz with the arrival of fuel that he claims to have already assured to resolve the current shortage.
What they do agree on is shrinking the State, which It will mean a change in the economic model that the leftist Movement towards Socialism (MAS) maintained for 20 years. and that, according to experts and opponents, it is already exhausted, which the Government of the current Bolivian president denies, Luis Arce.
Bolivia’s presidential candidate for the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Rodrigo Paz, gestures during a rally in El Alto on October 11, 2025. (Photo by AIZAR RALDES / AFP).
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The three months of the campaign passed in the midst of mutual accusations of “dirty war” and controversies that featured the Vice Presidential candidatesthe ex-policeman Edman LaraPaz’s companion, and the technological entrepreneur Juan Pablo Velasco, who is running alongside Quiroga.
Laurawhich is very active in TikTokmade a series of statements that have earned him harsh criticism, including a warning to his presidential candidate, comparing Bolivia and corruption with cancer patients, calling a “coward and faggot” (sic) Quirogaor constantly crashing into the media.
While Velascowho was born in the eastern region of Santa Cruz, was accused of racism because some alleged tweets of his came to light at the end of September, in which he referred pejoratively to the people who live in western BolivYoto.
For this vote, the same registry from August 17 will be used, which means that 7,567,207 people in Bolivian territory and another 369,308 citizens in 22 countries are called to the polls again.
Voting in Bolivia is mandatory and after issuing it, the person receives a suffrage certificate that must be presented to carry out any procedure in public institutions and in banks within 90 days after the elections.
Bolivia will once again have the Preliminary Results Transmission System (Sirepre)which will release information at the end of voting day.
National and international electoral observation missions will also be redeployed, including those of the European Union (EU) and the Organization of American States (OAS), which already accompanied the development of the first round.
Electoral silence has been in force in the country since Thursday and the “good government order” has been in force since Friday, prohibiting crowds or mass meetings, and the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Besides, This Sunday the circulation of vehicles that lack authorization from the electoral body will be prohibited.
