Eduardo González
The Spanish government congratulated center-right candidate Rodrigo Paz on his victory in Bolivia’s presidential elections on Monday.
“I congratulate Rodrigo Paz on his election as President of Bolivia,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on social media. “My gratitude to the Bolivian people for their democratic commitment. I hope we continue working together for strong and lasting cooperation,” he added.
“The Government of Spain extends its congratulations to Rodrigo Paz Pereira on his election as President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“The Bolivian people and institutions offered an example of civility and democratic and institutional respect during an exemplary election day, as confirmed by the Electoral Observation Missions present on the ground, supported by Spain,” it continued.
“The Government of Spain extends its best wishes for success to the president-elect and reiterates its willingness to continue strengthening the close ties of brotherhood that unite Spain with the Plurinational State of Bolivia, for the benefit of both peoples,” it concluded.
“I would like to congratulate the president-elect of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz,” declared Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares upon his arrival at the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. “Spain is certainly ready to work with Rodrigo Paz and the new Bolivian government, especially at this time as we head towards the Madrid summit of the Ibero-American community” in November 2026, he added.
Rodrigo Paz, son of former President Jaime Paz Zamora and great-nephew of former President Víctor Paz Estenssoro, obtained 54.5 percent of the vote, ahead of his rival, the liberal-conservative former President Jorge Quiroga, with 45.5 percent in the second round of the Bolivian elections held this Sunday. The new head of state will assume the presidency on November 8.
His victory ends nearly twenty years of governments by the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), the party of current President Luis Arce, whose candidate, Eduardo del Castillo, fell short of a mere three percent of the vote in the first round of elections, held on August 17.
