La Paz, Bolivia
Associated Press
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After a campaign shortage of campaigns blamed by the looming economic collapse, Bolivians voted for a new president and parliament in elections on Sunday, allowing them to see the right-wing government being elected for the first time in more than 20 years.
The vote, which can spell out the end of the long-dominated leftist party of the Andes, is one of the most important and one of the most unpredictable for Bolivia these days.
By Sunday, an astonishing 30% of voters remained undecided. Two major right-wing candidates, Samuel Doria Medina, the billionaire business owner and former president Jorge Fernando “Cuto” Quiroga, have been trapped in a heat of virtual death, according to polls.
Voting is mandatory in Bolivia, where around 7.9 million Bolivians are eligible to vote.
“We’re committed to providing a great opportunity to help you,” said Daniel Lansberg Rodriguez, founding partner at Aurora Macro Strategy, a New York-based advisory firm.
I’m not sure the right wing will win. Longtime voters, or masses, parties, for the socialist governance movement, are now shattered by internal conflict, live in rural areas and tend to infiltrate polls.
With the worst economic crisis in the country in 40 years, Bolivians are waiting time on the fuel line, struggling to find subsidies’ bread, narrowing down to double-digit inflation, opposition candidates bill the race as an opportunity to change the fate of the country.
“We’re committed to providing a great opportunity to help you,” said Daniel Lansberg Rodriguez, founding partner at Aurora Macro Strategy, a New York-based advisory firm.
The results determine whether Bolivia (the largest lithium reserve on the planet and with important deposits of rare earth minerals) follows the growth trends in Latin America.
Bolivian right-wing governments could trigger major geopolitical realignments of countries allied with governments inspired by Venezuelan socialism and world powers such as China, Russia and Iran.
Right-wing candidates vow to restore US relations
Doria Medina and Cuiloga praised the Trump administration and vowed to restore relations with the United States – which burst in 2008 when charismatic and longtime former president Evo Morales expelled the American ambassador.
The frontrunners also expressed interest in doing business with Israel that has no diplomatic ties with Bolivia, calling for foreign private companies to invest in the country and develop rich natural resources.
After taking office at the start of the commodity boom in 2006, Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president, nationalised the country’s oil and gas industry using rich benefits to reduce poverty, expand infrastructure and improve the lives of rural poor people.
After three consecutive presidential conditions, Morales was banned from this race by the Bolivian Constitutional Court after objecting to the unprecedented fourth and fourth that caused general unrest in 2019 and led to his expulsion.
His ally, President Luis Earth, rescinded MAS candidacy due to his plunging popularity and appointed his senior minister, Eduardo del Castillo.
Just as the party burst, Andronico Rodriguez, the 36-year-old Senate president, from the coalition of coca farmers as Morales, has launched his bid.
Rather than widely consider his heirs, the candidate would puncture his tropical base and avoid an arrest warrant for charges related to his relationship with the 15-year-old girl urged his supporters to taint or leave the vote blank.
Voting is mandatory in Bolivia, where around 7.9 million Bolivians are eligible to vote. ARCE President urged the population to reject Morales’ appeal, claiming that those who are ruining the vote are causing damage to democracy.
“We urge people to go out and vote,” he said while voting for the Bolivian capital, La Paz. “We must demonstrate unity and commitment to democracy.”
Doria Medina and Kiroga have a familiar face to Bolivian politics, who served in past neoliberal governments and ran towards the president three times before, but have struggled to raise interest as voters’ anxiety grows.
“There’s enthusiasm for change, but there’s no enthusiasm for the candidate,” said Eddie Avast, 44, a La Paz tupperware vendor who was defeated between the Doria Medina and Kiroga votes. “It’s always the same. Those in power are willing to spend the money in the country and we are suffering.”
Conservative candidates say austerity is needed
Everyone faces difficult challenges, wondering who wins. Doria Medina and Quiroga have saved the nation from bankruptcy by warning about the need for painful fiscal adjustments, including eliminating Bolivian generous food and fuel subsidies.
Some analysts warn that this could cause social anxiety.
“The Bolivian research group, the Andean Information Network,” said Catherine Ledebourg, director of the Andean Information Network.
“Both candidates are able to strengthen security forces and right-wing Para-state groups, paving the way for violent crackdowns against protests that are expected to erupt through foreign lithium exploitation and dramatic austerity measures.”
The 130 seats in the Bolivian parliamentary chamber and the House of Representatives will all be good in the Senate, along with 36.
As widely expected, if there are no more than 50% of the vote, or if they don’t receive 40% of the vote with a 10% point lead, the top two candidates will compete in the leak for the first time on October 19, since returning to Bolivia’s 1982 democracy.
