LA PAZ: Centrist senator Rodrigo Paz was leading Bolivia's presidential election, according to early official results, which showed the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) on track for its worst election defeat in a generation. Paz, of the Christian Democratic Party, had secured 32.18% of the vote, while Eduardo del Castillo of MAS had just 3.16%, according to initial results released by the electoral tribunal on Sunday night.
Conservative former president Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga of the Alianza coalition was second with 26.94%, with over 92% of the ballots counted. "Bolivia is not just asking for a change in government, it's asking for a change in the political system", Paz said in a speech broadcast on Sunday night. "This is the beginning of a great victory, of a great transformation", he added, as his supporters chanted "renewal".
Quiroga acknowledged the results, confirming his place in the runoff and congratulated Paz. Outgoing President Luis Arce released an upbeat statement recognising the results. "Democracy has triumphed", the statement read. If no candidate obtains more than 40% of the vote with a 10-point lead, there will be a runoff on October 19. Full official results will be announced within seven days.
Paz's strong performance surprised analysts. Opinion polls had suggested that the senator was far behind Quiroga and centre-right candidate Samuel Doria Medina of the Unidad Alliance coalition. Businessman Medina conceded defeat and said he would support Paz in any runoff.
Sunday's vote has been overshadowed by inflation at a four-decade high and the absence of former leftist president Evo Morales, who was barred from running. But Morales' calls to boycott the election appeared to fall short.
Voter turnout was steady, authorities said. Despite earlier concerns that the electoral process could be obstructed by supporters of Morales, international observers said there were no major disruptions. Null and blank ballots totalled 21.5%, results showed, likely reflecting some support for Morales, who had urged voters to cast null ballots in protest. Usually the share of blank and null votes does not exceed 6%.
Several minor incidents took place at polling stations in the central region of Cochabamba, Morales' political stronghold. With a crowded field of eight contenders and no dominant MAS party candidate, the election marked a "crossroads moment" for Bolivia, said Southern Andes analyst Glaeldys Gonzalez Calanche of the International Crisis Group.
Early results indicated millions of voters chose to punish MAS, creating an opportunity for the first time in nearly two decades for centrists and the right, which together commanded roughly three quarters of the vote, the early count showed. Quiroga has promised "radical change" to reverse what he calls "20 lost years" under MAS rule. He supports deep public spending cuts and a shift away from alliances with Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Quiroga was president for a year in 2001-2002 after Bolivia's then-leader resigned. — Reuters
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