Bolivian presidential candidate and former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, who is leading in the polls, makes his positions known in a debate Sunday in La Paz. Photo by Gabriel Marquez/EPA
With less than a week to go before Bolivia’s presidential runoff, polls show a narrow lead for conservative former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, of the Free Alliance, with voter support ranging between 43% and 45%.
His opponent, Rodrigo Paz Pereira, of the Christian Democratic Party, has between 36% and 39%. However, 18% to 20% of undecided voters are expected to determine the outcome.
A survey by Ipsos Ciesmori for the television network Unitel, published Sunday, shows Quiroga leading with 44.9% compared with 36.5% for Paz. Still, the high number of undecided voters could shift the trend.
Bolivia is preparing for an unprecedented presidential runoff on Sunday that features two right-leaning candidates. Nearly 8 million Bolivians are registered to vote.
In that context, a presidential debate Sunday in La Paz was broadcast on national television and digital platforms. The debate was organized by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, it and attracted millions of viewers.
That was the first time the candidates faced each other in a televised format ahead of the runoff. The exchange was notably restrained, focusing on economic and governance proposals rather than the confrontational tone typical of past campaigns.
The debate was well-received. Gustavo Ávila, a member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, called it “successful and positive,” saying it gave both candidates an equal opportunity to address the nation.
He described it as an important step toward strengthening democracy and said the tribunal plans to propose a law to make presidential debates mandatory in future elections.
After the event, the candidates shared their reactions.
Paz said the debate showed it was possible to “discuss with respect and with proposals,” emphasizing that voters want certainty and practical solutions, not empty confrontations.
Quiroga said Bolivia needs “firm and swift decisions” and that the debate showed who is ready to govern from day one. In his closing remarks, he had stressed the urgency of injecting dollars into the financial system and ending fuel shortages, presenting himself as the experienced candidate to face the crisis.
Before the debate, political analyst Reymi Ferreira told Bolivia’s Red Uno network that the event could be considered “historic,” with the potential to sway 9% to 12% of undecided voters in a race where the difference between candidates remains minimal.
In addition to the uncertainty over the number of undecided voters, questions remain about the fate of those who supported the Movement for Socialism, led by Evo Morales and later by Luis Arce, which has won every presidential election in the first round since coming to power in 2006.
