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La Paz [Bolivia], October 20 (ANI): Bolivians started voting on Sunday in a decisive presidential run-off between two pro-market candidates, signalling the top of practically 20 years of socialist management and a possible pivot again towards nearer ties with the United States, Al Jazeera reported.According to Al Jazeera, polling stations opened at 8 am native time on Sunday and remained open till 4 pm, with preliminary outcomes anticipated about 5 hours later.The contest options 65-year-old, conservative former interim President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, going through off in opposition to 58-year-old centrist Senator and economist Rodrigo Paz, the son of former leftist President Jaime Zamora. Surveys counsel a detailed race, with Quiroga barely forward, as reported by Al Jazeera.Both candidates have pledged to handle Bolivia’s extreme financial disaster and restore strained diplomatic relations with Washington, which deteriorated through the administrations of labour chief and first Bolivian President of indigenous descent, Evo Morales, and his successor and present President of the nation, Luis Arce.According to Al Jazeera, the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) occasion, lengthy the dominant drive in Bolivian politics since Morales took workplace in 2006, did not advance a candidate to the run-off following a collapse in help through the first spherical in August. The inside fragmentation of MAS marks the shut of a political period.The election comes as Bolivia, a rustic of 11 million individuals, confronts its worst financial disaster in a decade, with inflation hovering above 20 per cent. Fuel and greenback shortages are widespread, and lengthy strains at petrol stations have change into routine.Once one among South America’s fastest-growing economies, Bolivia is now grappling with dwindling international foreign money reserves, largely because of years of excessive subsidies and underinvestment in its fuel sector.Many see the vote as a step again towards the market-orientated insurance policies of the Nineties, a interval marked by liberalisation in addition to rising inequality, as reported by Al Jazeera.The two candidates have laid out distinct reform methods. Quiroga, who briefly led the nation from 2001 to 2002, has known as for sweeping modifications, together with slashing public spending, opening as much as international funding and credit score, and shutting down or privatising unprofitable state enterprises.Paz, in distinction, proposes a extra gradual method he calls “capitalism for all”, emphasising fiscal accountability and decentralisation whereas sustaining key social welfare programmes.As per Al Jazeera, each have prompt scaling again Bolivia’s common gas subsidy, limiting it to public transportation, with the intention to cut back fiscal strain.Nearly eight million Bolivians are eligible to vote, with participation required by legislation. The winner will assume workplace on November 8. (ANI)
October 20, 2025, 04:30 IST
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