Former congressman, former mayor, economist by profession and born in Spain due to his parents’ exile, opposition presidential candidate Rodrigo Paz Pereira was a surprise in the general elections in Bolivia, coming in first place in the quick counts with more than 30% of the valid votes.
Paz Pereira, 57 years old, is the main revelation of the current electoral process, as he went from the last places in the pre-electoral polls to dispute a second round with former president Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga (2001-2002), to whom the quick counts give a 27%.
Who is Rodrigo Paz Pereira?
Buzzy
His running mate in the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) is former Police Captain Edman Lara.
Edman Lara became popular in social networks for his revelations of various cases of alleged corruption in the police institution, until he was discharged in 2024.
The son of Spanish Carmen Pereira and former Bolivian President Jaime Paz Zamora (1989-1993), Paz Pereira was born in Santiago de Compostela in 1967.
He lived his childhood in several countries because his parents were persecuted during the military governments.
The politician is an economist and has studies in international relations, in addition to extensive experience in the public sector.
This having been deputy, councilman, mayor of the southern city of Tarija between 2015 and 2020 and is currently senator for the opposition force Comunidad Ciudadana (CC), of former president Carlos Mesa (2003-2005).
To become Mayor of Tarija, Rodrigo Paz Pereira defeated the governmental Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), then led by former President Evo Morales (2006-2019), in the 2015 municipal elections.
In 2019, he was part of the so-called Coordinating Committee for the Defense of Democracy that demanded a second round of elections, amid allegations of fraud in favor of the then president Morales and to the detriment of Carlos Mesa in the failed general elections of that year, which were later annulled.
The big surprise of the elections
The hidden vote was in the Masista strongholds and other intermediate cities, and was in favor of Rodrigo Paz and Edman Lara. The undecided preferred a new face. Do not blame the voter for the results. pic.twitter.com/lFN6WTnTJT
– Andrés Gómez Vela (@AndrsGomezV) August 18, 2025
In the current electoral process, the senator had a modest campaign compared to the great display made by Quiroga and the also opposing Samuel Doria Medina, whom the polls had placed among the first places and with possibilities of disputing the second round.
In statements to EFE, Paz Pereira defined himself as “a man who has two enormous joys, loving his country and loving his family”.
“From this, (Paz) builds a vision together with other men and women who love peace, the whole of the homeland and their families with Christian values, and we are working to generate a great agreement, a consensus,” he said.
Should Paz Pereira win the elections, he pledged to fulfill the agenda proposed with Lara, including his offers to put an end to the“State tranca” to give more resources to the Bolivian regions, cut “superfluous expenses” in the State and apply a “hard hand” against corruption and a judicial reform.
Bolivia needs stability, it needs governability, but it needs to put an end to the State's blockade so that the State works for us and we for the State
Rodrigo Paz Pereira
He is also clear that in order to implement his plans he will have to reach consensus in the Legislative, which would be presided over by ‘Capi Lara’ if the duo wins in the second round.
Paz Pereira relies on his experience as a legislator and as the head of an executive body, having served as mayor.
