The World Bolivians elect a center-right president for the first time in two decades
Oct 20, 2025
Catherine Ledeber, Director at the Andean Information Network, discusses Bolivia's historic election of center-right president Rodrigo Paz after two decades of leftist rule. She explores the significant political shifts and the challenges ahead, including Paz's ambitious economic reforms and immediate risks of unrest from subsidy removals. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of rightward shifts in Latin America and foreign agent laws used to suppress dissent globally. Ledeber's insights present a compelling look at a nation at a crossroads.
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Bolivia’s Major Political Realignment
- Bolivia shifted from two decades of leftist rule to a center-right win under Rodrigo Paz, signaling a major political realignment.
- Catherine Ledeber warns his early executive decrees and economic reforms could spark unrest and fracture support.
Why Bolivia Turned Away From MAS
- MAS's long rule was built on natural-resource revenue and social spending but later weakened by corruption, economic decline, and lost reserves.
- Ledeber connects Bolivia's collapse in reserves and unpaid salaries to voter shift toward change.
U.S. Pressure Shapes Regional Politics
- Ledeber argues U.S. pressure and well-funded right campaigns are shifting Latin America rightward.
- She cites Trump administration moves, funding, and arms sales as influential external factors.