Bolivian centrist candidate Paz leads as presidential election heads to runoff
Voting has been overshadowed by decades-high inflation and the absence of former leftist president Morales, who is barred from running
Centrist senator Rodrigo Paz was leading Bolivia’s presidential election late on Sunday, according to early official results, which showed the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) on track for its worst election defeat in a generation.
Paz of the Christian Democratic Party had secured 32.18 per cent of the vote, while Eduardo del Castillo of MAS had just 3.16 per cent, according to initial results released by the electoral tribunal on Sunday night.
Conservative former president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga of the Alianza coalition was in second with 26.94 per cent of the vote.
“Bolivia is not just asking for a change in government, it’s asking for a change in the political system,” Paz said in a speech broadcast on Sunday night. “This is the beginning of a great victory, of a great transformation,” he added, as his supporters chanted “renewal”.
Earlier on Sunday, Quiroga acknowledged the results, confirming his place in the runoff, and congratulated Paz on his performance.
Outgoing president Luis Arce released an upbeat statement recognising the results. “Democracy has triumphed,” the statement read.