Centrist Rodrigo Paz wins Bolivia's presidential runoff, topping right-wing rival

Описание: (20 Oct 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
La Paz, Bolivia - 20 October 2025
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide of supporters of Bolivian President-elect Rodrigo Paz celebrating
2. Wide of fireworks
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rodrigo Paz, Bolivian President-elect:
"Because people are having a hard time, we will deliver gasoline and diesel when we are in government so that the economy of men and women is not disrupted, and commerce does not come to a halt. That has been a commitment we will fulfil with the support of the people starting November 9 there will be gas. Don't worry (in reference to the firecracker that exploded next to him)."
4. Various of supporters celebrating ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rodrigo Paz, Bolivian President-elect:
"Listen. Listen. If they wanted to scare us, a firecracker doesn't do anything to us damn it."
6. Supporters celebrating
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rodrigo Paz, Bolivian President-elect:
"Thank you. Today democracy won. Today Bolivia won. Today Bolivia won. Today Bolivia won and we're just going to think about Bolivia. Enough of hatred, racism, division. One Bolivia, Bolivia, Bolivia, Bolivia."
8. People celebrating
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Luis Rada, 39, Paz supporter:
"Bolivia is the most tender country in South America, and Mr. Rodrigo Paz has understood this, and today the people have decided that he is the president."
10. People holding banner in support of Paz
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Nancy Quispe, 45, Paz supporter:
"We came to celebrate our newly elected president by the absolute majority. Here we are the people and I believe that he represents us. It is from our raza, as we say. He's the only one who has shown a bit of
empathy with the people."
12. Presidential candidate Rodrigo Paz and his wife Maria Elena Urquidi entering the stage
13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rodrigo Paz, Bolivian President-elect:
"We must open Bolivia to the world, resume a role, and for that, I also want to thank the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Landó, who, on behalf of President Trump's government, has called for us, at that time, and we told the country, engaging in dialogue for all support, help, or cooperation to be able to carry out a close relationship with one of the most important governments in the global arena."
14. Paz waving flag
STORYLINE:
Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator who was never a nationally prominent figure until now, won Bolivia’s presidential election on Sunday, preliminary results showed, galvanizing voters outraged by the country’s economic crisis and frustrated with 20 years of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism party.

“The trend is irreversible,” Óscar Hassenteufel, the president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, said of Paz's lead over his rival, former right-wing President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga.

Paz won 54% of the votes, early results showed, versus Quiroga's 45%.

Paz took the podium Sunday night flanked by his wife, María Helena Urquidi, and four adult children.

The hotel ballroom in Bolivia's capital of La Paz went wild, with people shouting his name and holding phones aloft.

Shortly after the results came in, Quiroga conceded to Paz.

Paz and his popular running mate, ex-police Capt. Edman Lara, gained traction among working-class and rural voters disillusioned with the unbridled spending of the long-ruling Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, party but wary of Quiroga's radical 180-degree turn away from its social protections.


Although Paz's Christian Democratic Party has the cushion of a slight majority in Congress, he'll still need to compromise to push through an ambitious overhaul.





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