Early life and formative years
Rodrigo Paz Pereira was born on 22 September 1967 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, while his family lived in exile during a turbulent period in Bolivian politics. He is the son of Jaime Paz Zamora, a key figure of the Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) and a former president of Bolivia, and Carmen Pereira. The family returned to Bolivia after the restoration of democracy, and Paz completed his education at Colegio San Ignacio in La Paz before studying international relations and political management abroad.
Education, family and faith
Educated in the United States — where he studied international relations and later took a master's in political management — Paz blends an international outlook with a powerful local political lineage. Married to María Elena Urquidi, the couple have four children. Throughout his public life he has spoken openly about faith, a recurrent motif in speeches and interviews that has framed parts of his political rhetoric.
From Tarija to the national stage
For more than two decades Paz built his political career in Tarija, a department in Bolivia’s south. He served as a national deputy, then as president of Tarija’s municipal council and later as mayor. His time in Tarija gave him practical governance experience and a regional power base that would prove decisive when he launched a national bid. Observers point to his victory over the MAS candidate in Tarija as an early sign that his politics could resonate beyond the department.
A pragmatic local record
As mayor, Paz emphasized administrative modernization and municipal projects that raised his local profile. The combination of an established political family name and a record of municipal management became the platform from which he later campaigned nationally.
The 2025 surge: how a regional figure became a national winner
The 2025 electoral cycle produced a surprise. Paz, initially seen as a regional figure, topped the first round of voting and then secured victory in the runoff, defeating a field that included established national figures. Media characterized the result as a historic break from the nearly 20-year MAS dominance. His appeal — a blend of moderate economic reform, anti-corruption messaging and an emphasis on the informal majority — allowed him to consolidate diverse anti-MAS currents.
“The son of former President Jaime Paz Zamora… won the election with promises of ‘capitalism for all.’”
Campaign tactics and grassroots touring
Campaign communications and regional press show a methodical strategy: extensive visits to municipalities, frequent direct interactions with traders, transport workers and informal-sector entrepreneurs, and a large volume of short-form messaging on social platforms to stay visible between rallies.
“Capitalism for all”: the program and its components
The centerpiece of Paz’s political branding is the slogan “capitalism for all.” The phrase captures an attempt to reframe market-oriented policies as populist tools: economic inclusion through formalization, targeted social protections, and decentralization of resources to municipalities and departments.
Key policy proposals
- Decentralization & the “50-50 rule”: a plan to audit and reallocate certain central resources so that a fixed portion flows directly to regions.
- Subsidy reform: targeting fuel and energy subsidies viewed as both fiscally costly and vulnerable to corruption; proposals include redirecting part of the savings to social programs.
- Formalizing the informal economy: tax simplification, microcredit and regulatory easing aimed at bringing informal vendors and transporters into the formal sector.
- Anti-corruption and transparency: institutional reforms to procurement, state-owned enterprise oversight and strengthened auditing.
How he frames the informal majority
Paz has repeatedly framed the informal economy — which his campaign often described as an “85%” majority of workers outside formal labor protections — as the country’s central structural challenge. His policy pitch treats formalization as both an economic and political project, promising access to credit, legal protections and simpler tax regimes.
Voices, quotes and public rhetoric
Throughout interviews and speeches Paz blends pragmatic policy language with moral and religious references. He has used faith-based language to underscore service and duty, while the campaign’s spokespeople stress technocratic competence in economic policy.
“It will be a pragmatic government, as pragmatic and diverse as the Bolivian people… That’s why my slogan is ‘capitalism for all.’” — Rodrigo Paz Pereira, interview with AP.
“Here in Bolivia we have 15% of formal economy and 85% informal… If we don’t resolve these two factors… we will not be able to resolve the structure of Bolivia’s viability.” — Campaign speech excerpt.
Political dynamics: coalitions, critics and the legislature
Winning the presidency is only the beginning. Paz’s party does not control an outright legislative majority, and analysts emphasize that his ability to govern will depend on coalition-building. Local reporting during and after the campaign pointed to internal disputes within allied groups and tensions over candidate lists — fault lines that will require careful management.
Criticisms and skepticism
Critics highlight a number of concerns: lack of precise fiscal numbers attached to major proposals, potential social backlash from subsidy cuts, and the political risk of alienating constituencies during a rapid reform agenda. Some commentators also point to the durability of entrenched networks formed during two decades of MAS governance.
Immediate challenges facing the incoming administration
From the outset, Paz must navigate a set of immediate, high-stakes problems: inflation and currency pressures; the fiscal costs and political sensitivity of subsidy reform; a fragmented legislature; and the task of persuading both investors and ordinary citizens that reforms will be fair and effective.
Energy and natural resources
Bolivia’s natural resource base — particularly hydrocarbons and lithium — will be central to any economic plan. Paz has signaled a willingness to renegotiate how state companies are run and how benefits are shared with regions, but the specifics will be politically fraught and technically complex.
Why his message resonated
Several factors explain Paz’s appeal: widespread fatigue with one-party dominance, a clear rhetorical focus on the informal economy, and a centrist presentation that avoided the extremes of radical austerity or unabashed populism. His running mate, a former police captain known for anti-corruption positions, helped widen the ticket’s credibility on law-and-order and governance reforms.
Potential trajectories: success and failure scenarios
If Paz converts promises into tangible gains — formalizing the informal economy, delivering visible anti-corruption wins and achieving a workable decentralization model — his presidency could reset Bolivia’s political economy. Conversely, mismanaged reforms, legislative gridlock or perceived backtracking on anti-corruption promises could rapidly erode public confidence.
What to watch in the first 100 days
- Cabinet appointments and whether they signal technocratic competence or political payoffs.
- Concrete steps on subsidy reform and how savings are redirected.
- Initial measures to formalize micro and small enterprises.
- Legislative deals: early coalition paperwork and cross-bench agreements.
Narrative and legacy
Paz’s arc — from regional mayor to national president (elect) — combines family legacy with a modern political pitch. He occupies a space between establishment and reformer, and his presidency will likely be judged not on slogans but on whether ordinary Bolivians experience improved economic stability and opportunity.
Sources and further reading
This feature draws on reporting from international and Bolivian outlets, interviews and campaign material. Selected reporting includes coverage by The Guardian, AP, El País, and regional Bolivian press; social media updates from Paz’s official accounts; and public statements and campaign documents released during the 2025 election cycle. For key pieces referenced in this article, see the embedded citations next to major paragraphs above.
