Who is Rodrigo Paz, centrist Senator who ended 20 years of leftist rule in Bolivia? His father was…

Centrist leader Rodrigo Paz has been elected as the new president of Bolivia, ending 20 years of leftist rule in the South American nation. Paz, a member of Bolivia’s centre-right Christian Democratic Party (PDC), will assume office on November 8, but does not hold a majority in the country’s legislature, and will likely be forced to forge alliances with other parties to ensure effective governance.

Who is Rodrigo Paz?

An economist by training, Rodrigo Paz, 58, is the son of Bolivia’s former leftist President Jaime Paz Zamora, who led the country from 1989 to 1993. Rodrigo studied economics in the United States and later returned to his home country to join politics, starting his political career in Tarija.

Rodrigo Paz was born in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, while the Paz family was in exile during the military dictatorship in Bolivia in the 1980s. Growing up, Paz attended Jesuit schools and later graduated from the American University in Washington.

Before the coup in 1980, Rodrigo’s father survived a plane crash in Bolivia, which was later revealed to have been a targeted assassination bid, while his also survived a mysterious car crash while in exile. The centrist leader has often revealed how these experience shaped his formative years and political ambition.

Over his career, Paz has been been affiliated with political parties across the spectrum, from his father’s Revolutionary Left Movement to right-leaning alliances, progressively advancing from city councilor to senator.

How Rodrigo Paz won Bolivia’s Presidential polls?

Rodrigo Paz, whose victory marks a historic shift in Bolivian politics, won the country’s presidential polls on the back of his moderate platform-pledging to maintain social programs while promoting private sector-led growth, which resonated with left-leaning voters disillusioned by the ruling MAS, founded by former President Evo Morales, but wary of Paz’s conservative rival Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga’s proposed austerity measures.

The 58-year-old senator has won 54.5 per cent of the vote in Sunday’s run-off race, well ahead of right-wing former interim President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, who got 45.4 per cent of the vote, according to the country’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

Both candidates had pledged to address Bolivia’s severe economic crisis and repair strained diplomatic relations with Washington, which deteriorated during the administrations of labour leader and first Bolivian President of indigenous descent, Evo Morales, and his successor and current President of the country, Luis Arce.

Why Bolivia dumped socialist leadership?

The ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, long the dominant force in Bolivian politics since Morales took office in 2006, failed to advance a candidate to the run-off following a collapse in support during the first round in August. The internal fragmentation of MAS marks the close of a political era, Al Jazeera reported.

Bolivia has been suffering an economic crisis, including annual inflation of almost 25 per cent and critical shortages of US dollars and fuel, resulting in mass protests against high prices and hours-long waits for fuel, bread and other basics in the lead-up to the August 17 general election.

After the results were announced, Paz’s vice-presidential running mate, Edmand Lara, called for “unity and reconciliation”. “We must ensure the supply of diesel and gasoline. People are suffering. We need to stabilise the prices of the basic food basket, and we must put an end to corruption,” Lara said.

(With inputs from agencies)