Centrist Rodrigo Paz will be the country’s next president, paving the way for a major political transformation.
Three months ago, Rodrigo Paz was a little-known Bolivian opposition senator with a famous father and a mixed reputation as mayor.
Now he’s the first conservative to win a presidential election in the country in 20 years.
President-elect Rodrigo Paz gives a press conference in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Oct.
CORRECTS PEDRO TO EDMAN LARA - President-elect Rodrigo Paz, left, and his running mate Edman Lara give a press conference in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Oct.
Protesters shout, “It was fraud!” about the results of the day prior’s presidential runoff election in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Oct.
A protester shouts, “It was fraud!” about the results of the day prior’s presidential runoff election in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Oct.
LA PAZ, Bolivia () — Bolivia’s first conservative president-elect in 20 years, Rodrigo Paz, injected a sharp note of realism into his plans to tackle an economic crisis Monday, a day after his surprise electoral victory signaled the end of decades of leftist rule in the South American nation.
After years of government antipathy toward the U.S.
Under the Movement Toward Socialism party, Paz pledged to rebuild relations with Washington — and attract foreign investment to a country long locked out of international markets.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Paz’s victory Sunday “marks a transformative opportunity for both nations” to work on investment, immigration, security and other matters.
Trump’s administration itself is a very clear and open signal,” Paz said at a news conference.
The political importance lies in whether the issue moves from public comment into formal action, party response, court record, election authority notice or administrative decision.
