Bolivia's Pivotal Presidential Runoff: Paz vs. Quiroga

Bolivia is poised for an election showdown this October between centrist Senator Rodrigo Paz and conservative ex-President Jorge Quiroga. The runoff follows a tight initial vote in August where no contender managed to claim victory, signaling a potential end to the Movement for Socialism's two-decade-long dominance.

Paz, at 57, blends experience and novelty as a presidential hopeful. His political pedigree includes being the son of a former president and roles such as a congressman and a Tarija mayor. His primary initiatives focus on decentralization and economic modernization, even proposing a half-centralized fund management approach and advocating for blockchain to fight corruption.

Quiroga, a familiar figure in politics, seeks a return to leadership under the Alianza Libre coalition. His platform promotes significant budget cuts and wants to restore relations with Israel. Key to his campaign is offering a $1,500 'popular property title' for every adult Bolivian, enhancing their access to financial resources.