OR Bolivia He is preparing to acquire for the first time after nearly two decades of president outside the left, according to official preliminary results of Sunday’s elections.

The senator Rodrigo and the former president Jar They occupied the first and second places respectively, but no one securing a percentage for direct victory. Thus, the two candidates will face a second round expected in October.

Path Pereira, head of the Christian Democratic Party, was the surprise of the ballot box, as the polls foresaw the favorite of the businessman Samuel Doria Medina. His electoral campaign was based on a commitment to redistribute more resources to regions and fight corruption, with the slogan “capitalism for all, not for the few”.

He has proposed easy access to loans, tax exemptions to boost the official economy and abolish trade barriers for not produced in Bolivia.

Kiro had served as a temporary president from 2001-2002, having previously served as Vice President of the Military Leader Hugo Banserwho was later elected democratically.

The possible election of the president outside the leftist line is expected to bring about significant changes to the country’s foreign policy. Both Pereira and Kiroga adopt pro -capitalist positions that could lead to greater support of foreign investment in huge Bolivia lithium reserves – basic material for electric cars, computers and solar panels.

Politically, a change of government could signal closest links with the US after 20 years of reinforcing relations with China, Russia and Iran. A recent US Congress report characterized bilateral relations “tense” under socialist governance.

Bolivia’s right turn comes in a period of serious economic crisis, with deficiencies in fuel, exchange stocks and basic goods, but also high inflation and debt.

The dissatisfaction with the ruling party movement towards socialism (MAS) was evident. The president Luis Arceimmersed in the unpopular, did not claim a new term. MAS’s candidate, Edward del Castillohe was strongly condemned during his vote, with citizens inviting him to “wait in the queue, as for fuel”. The top left -wing candidate, Andronicus RodriguezHe received up to stonewall, while an improvised explosive mechanism exploded at his constituency, without injuries.

The Left in Bolivia is not only faced with popular discontent for the economy, but also deeply internal disintegration. For the first time in about 20 years, the former president Evos Morales He was not in the ballot box. Morales, who ruled from 2006 to 2019, has been excluded from a new nomination and called on his supporters to cancel their vote.

His last term ended with disputed elections in 2019, demonstrations and accusations of adulteration, which forced him to resign under the pressure of the army. In 2020, Arsis took over, sometimes close to his associate, but the two quickly became political opponents.

The internal disputes on Mas remain intense, with mobilizations and violent episodes, while Morales also faces arrest warrants for a minor relationship, which he describes as “politically motivated”.