Bolivia’s Election Reveals Deep Flaws in Leftist Rule and the Urgent Need for Real Reform

Bolivia stands at a crossroads that reverberates far beyond its borders. After more than 20 years of leftist rule under Evo Morales and his Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, the nation’s economy is in crisis, inflation has soared to record levels, and trust in institutions lies in ruins. The recent presidential election saw an unexpected surge for Rodrigo Paz, a pragmatic centrist whose rise symbolizes Bolivians’ hunger for functional governance rather than ideological extremes. His opponent, Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga— a former right-wing president advocating harsh austerity and drastic privatizations—represents the polar opposite: a radical shift many fear could further destabilize...