Demonstrations broke out in Bolivia’s capital on Monday as hundreds of protesters accused authorities of election fraud following the victory of centre-right candidate Rodrigo Paz.
Paz, a 58-year-old economist, won Sunday’s presidential run-off with 54.5% of the vote, defeating former president Jorge Quiroga. His election ends 20 years of left-wing rule in a country now facing its deepest economic crisis in four decades.
According to AFP news, Protesters gathered in La Paz, chanting “fraud” and attempting to march towards the main government square, where the president’s and parliament’s offices are located. Police dispersed the crowd, though the protest ended without violence.
Despite conceding defeat, Quiroga called for the verification of voting records in response to growing claims of irregularities. Several unverified allegations circulated online soon after results were announced.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which oversees elections in Bolivia, rejected suggestions of wrongdoing. Its president, Oscar Hassenteufel, dismissed the accusations, saying: “The word fraud should be banned from Bolivia.”
Many Bolivians, however, remain skeptical. “What is outrageous is that there was fraud and the vote was not respected,” said Pablo Perez, a 23-year-old student in La Paz.
Paz’s victory signals a dramatic shift in Bolivia’s political direction as the country grapples with high inflation, unemployment, and widespread public discontent.