Shattered Aspirations Have Come to Pass

In a historic shift, the long-standing left-wing ruling party in Bolivia, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), has been swept away in the presidential election. The catastrophic state and worst crisis in 40 years in the country are attributed to the 20 years of dominance by the MAS party.

The MAS party, founded by Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia, was initially celebrated for its role in lifting the country out of poverty. The gas price boom allowed the MAS party to achieve its dream of escaping poverty, racism, and achieving independence for Bolivia. However, the party's policies, oriented towards natural resource exploitation, from raw materials to agriculture, led to the destruction of forests, pollution of rivers and soils, and the conversion of land for soybean fields and gold mining.

State-owned enterprises were money pits during the MAS party's rule. The old and new elites in Bolivia benefited from these policies, at the expense of the indigenous and rural population. Despite the initial success, social programs implemented by the MAS party were not sustainable, leading to the current crisis.

Evo Morales' increasing authoritarian tendencies and his refusal to tolerate other gods beside him led to the complete self-destruction of the MAS party. The party's two-thirds majorities allowed it to rule unchecked and turn the judiciary into its tool. Party membership was prioritized over qualification during the MAS party's rule.

Today, 80% of Bolivians work in the informal sector without social security. The MAS party is being held responsible by Bolivians for this catastrophic state. The presidential election on October 19, 2025, will determine the next president of Bolivia. The two candidates advancing to the runoff are Rodrigo Paz, a Christian Democrat, and Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, a right-wing conservative. The term of office for the new president will begin after this runoff.

The MAS party's brand of "socialism" is characterized as long-standing crude neoliberalism. Its rule benefited the indigenous, rural people, farmers, and the poor in Bolivia, but its authoritarian tendencies and self-destruction have led to its downfall. The MAS party's government was oriented towards natural resource exploitation, but the next president will have the challenge of building new, sustainable economic sectors and diversifying the economy.