Voters in Bolivia are heading toward an unprecedented presidential runoff after Sunday’s election results showed centrist candidate Rodrigo Paz leading the race but falling short of securing an outright victory, according to preliminary results.
Paz will face former right-wing president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga in the second round, scheduled for October 19. With more than 91 percent of ballots counted, Paz obtained 32.8 percent of the vote, compared to 26.4 percent for Quiroga.
To win in the first round, a candidate needed either more than 50 percent of the vote or at least 40 percent with a 10-point lead over the nearest rival. The election comes at a time of heightened political polarization in Bolivia, following years of rule by the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party. (APS)
