Shifting Political Cycles: Presidential Elections in Bolivia 2025

The 2025 general elections in Bolivia were historic, unfolding amid a deep and multifaceted crisis. The electoral landscape was profoundly shaped by the internal divisions and weakening of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS-IPSP), culminating in the party’s decisive first-round defeat on August 17th. This loss not only ended MAS’s two-decade dominance as Bolivia’s hegemonic political force but also paved the way for the reemergence of the right. The changing fortunes of the MAS reverberated throughout the electoral process, influencing both the candidates who emerged and the composition of the electorate. Moreover, the October 19th runoff marked a significant institutional milestone. For the first time since the adoption of the 2009 constitution—and after several electoral cycles in which MAS secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round—the second-round mechanism was activated. With no presidential ticket achieving an outright majority, the runoff was triggered in a competitive context, underscoring a new phase in Bolivia’s electoral dynamics.