This combination of photos, both snapped on August 17, 2025, shows former Bolivian president and presidential candidate for the 'Alianza Libre' (Free Alliance) coalition, Jorge 'Tuto' Quiroga Ramirez (L), casting his vote, and Bolivia's presidential candidate for the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Rodrigo Paz, voting in Tarija, Tarija department, Bolivia. AIZAR RALDES, MARCELO GOMEZ / AFP
Bolivians were headed for an unprecedented runoff presidential election following a vote Sunday, August 17, in which a dark-horse centrist, Senator Rodrigo Paz, drew more votes than the right-wing front-runners, although not enough to secure an outright victory, according to early results.
Paz, a moderate who has sought to soften the edges of the opposition's push for tough austerity to rescue Bolivia from economic collapse, will face off against right-wing former President Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, who finished second, on October 19.
With over 91% of the ballots counted on Sunday, Paz had received 32.8% of the votes cast. Quiroga had 26.4%. Candidates needed to surpass 50%, or 40% with a 10-point margin of victory, to avoid a runoff.
After a lackluster campaign overshadowed by a looming economic collapse, millions of Bolivians voted on Sunday for a new president and parliament in elections that could see a right-wing government elected for the first time in over two decades.
