Bolivia is on the cusp of a rightward shift as voters prepare to head to the polls on August 17 to choose their next president. The country has been plagued by economic turmoil, high inflation, and dwindling currency reserves, fueling public dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
Two conservative candidates, Samuel Doria Medina and Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, are leading the pack, with Medina likely facing stiff competition from fellow also-ran Quiroga. The left-wing candidate, Andronico Rodriguez, has not been polling as strongly as his conservative counterparts.
The polls show a close race, with Medina in the lead, followed by Quiroga and Rodriguez. However, a significant number of voters are undecided or intent on casting null votes, adding an element of uncertainty to the election.
Bolivia’s left-wing coalition has fractured, and former president Evo Morales, a key figure in the country’s left wing, is not running due to term limits imposed by the court. His supporters have taken to the streets in protest, but polls estimate that only 25-34% of voters will participate with protest votes.
The election is significant because it marks the first time in nearly two decades that the left-wing has lost a presidential race. Analysts predict that this outcome will send shockwaves throughout Latin America and signal a shift away from the region’s traditional left-leaning policies.
A second round of voting is likely, with the top candidates facing off in October. The stakes are high, as Bolivia approaches a period of uncertainty amidst an economic crisis and social unrest.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/15/a-political-shift-ahead-what-to-know-about-bolivias-presidential-election