Berlin, La Paz (epd). The runoff election for the presidency will take place in Bolivia on Sunday. The population is called upon to choose between the Christian Democrat Rodrigo Paz and the former right-wing president Jorge Quiroga from the Libre electoral alliance. Paz received 32 percent of the vote in the first round of voting on August 17th. Quiroga, who ruled the country as interim president from 2001 to 2002, came in second with 27 percent.
Both candidates promise a turnaround in the country’s economic policy, which was under strong state control under the previously ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) party. Paz is seen as the favorite of many disappointed MAS voters and, under the slogan “capitalism for all”, promises to continue social programs and not tolerate racism against indigenous groups within the country. Quiroga, as the company’s candidate, plans to stimulate the economy with a loan from the International Monetary Fund and privatize some of the state-owned companies.
Bolivia is in the midst of a deep economic crisis. The country lacks foreign currency to import fuel and medicine. For too long, the ruling MAS has relied on high gas prices and postponed investments in the state sponsor YPFB in order to use the money to finance social programs.
Even with the prospect of a policy change, the economic figures had improved slightly. The incumbent head of state Luis Arce decided not to run again.
