Bolivian Right Wing Re-Enter Elections Amid Economic Turmoil

Bolivia’s Presidential Race Races to a Right‑Wing Turn

Election Snapshot

• Voters cast ballots Sunday against an inflating economy.
• Center‑right tycoon Samuel Doria Medina and ex‑president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga both sit at the top of the leaderboard.
• Both vow to curb public spending, open the country to foreign investment and re‑anchor ties with the United States.
• A runoff will be scheduled for 19 October if no candidate receives a majority.

Who’s Leading?

• Doria Medina, 66, former planning minister turned cement millionaire, has pledged a 100‑day plan to halt inflation and restore fuel and dollars without cutting anti‑poverty programs.
• Quiroga, 65, engineer‑turned‑politician who served as vice‑president under re‑formed ex‑dictator Hugo Banzer, promised “we will change everything, absolutely everything after 20 lost years.”
• Other candidates, including left‑wing Senate president Andronico Rodriguez, trail behind by a considerable margin.

Economic Context

The Andean nation is battling its worst crisis in a generation, with annual inflation hovering near 25 percent and shortages of U.S. dollars and fuel.

Gas revenues have plummeted from a peak of $6.1 billion in 2013 to $1.6 billion last year, while the country’s large lithium reserves remain underground. The government has nearly run out of foreign exchange needed to import fuel, wheat, and other essentials.

Public Sentiment

• Indigenous street vendor Marcela Sirpa, 63, who traditionally supported the ruling Movement toward Socialism (MAS), has thrown her support behind Quiroga, claiming that “MAS left us all in the gutter.”
• 21‑year‑old student Miguel Angel Miranda stated that “in the past 20 years, we’ve had good income, but the government didn’t invest in anything or propose new directions to better expand our economy.”
• Esteban Morales, barred from running for a fourth term, urges his rural Indigenous base to spoil their ballots, calling for a “voto nulo.”

Parallel to Argentina

Analysts compare Bolivia’s election to Argentina’s 2023 vote, where voters moved from the long‑ruling left to libertarian candidate Javier Milei, seeking an end to a deep crisis. Bolivia’s current contest may mirror that shift, but the candidates have years of experience and vied for stability rather than a mere left‑to‑right swing.

Legislative Impact

All seats in Bolivia’s bicameral legislature are also up for election on Sunday, potentially reshaping policy directions in tandem with the presidential race.