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Rodrigo Paz Pereira

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Paz and the second or maternal family name is Pereira.
Rodrigo Paz Pereira
Official portrait, c. 2020
President-elect of Bolivia
Assuming office
8 November 2025
Vice PresidentEdmand Lara (elect)
SucceedingLuis Arce
Senator for Tarija
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 November 2020
Preceded byMarcelo Antezana
Mayor of Tarija
In office
30 May 2015 – 24 October 2020
Preceded byOscar Montes
Succeeded byAlfonso Lema
President of the Tarija Municipal Council
In office
30 May 2010 – 30 May 2015
Preceded byRoberto Ávila Castellanos
Succeeded byAlfonso Lema
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
from Tarija
In office
6 August 2002 – 22 January 2010
Preceded byPedro Sagredo
Succeeded byRoy Cornejo Raña
ConstituencyCircumscription 49 (2002–2006)
Circumscription 46 (2006–2010)
Personal details
BornRodrigo Paz Pereira
(1967-09-22) 22 September 1967 (age 58)
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
CitizenshipBolivia • Spain
Political partyPDC (2019; since 2025)
Other political
affiliations		MIR–FRI (2002–2005)
PODEMOS (2005–2008)
CC (2020–2025)
SpouseMaria Elena Urquidi
Children4
Parent(s)Jaime Paz Zamora
Carmen Pereira Carballo
RelativesVíctor Paz Estenssoro (great-uncle)
Xosé Manuel Beiras (uncle-in-law)
EducationSan Ignacio School
Alma materAmerican University in Washington, United States
(BIGS, MPM)

Rodrigo Paz Pereira (Spanish pronunciation: [roˈðɾiɣo ˈpas peˈɾejɾa]; born 22 September 1967) is a Bolivian politician who is the president-elect of Bolivia.[1] The eldest son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, he has served as senator for Tarija since 2020. He previously served as mayor of Tarija from 2015 to 2020 and as a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2002 to 2010, representing his father's Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR).

Born in Spain during the exile of his father, Rodrigo Paz Pereira graduated from the American University in Washington, United States and joined the government of Hugo Banzer in various diplomatic positions. He was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the 2002 election for his father's MIR, serving until 2010. Following the dissolution of the MIR, Paz entered the local field of the familiar political stronghold, Tarija, serving as President of the Municipal Council from 2010 to 2015 and as Mayor of Tarija from 2015 to 2020. In 2020, he was elected to the Chamber of Senators for the Civic Community list, representing Tarija.

In the 2025 general election, Paz ran as the candidate for president of the Christian Democratic Party, with former police officer Edmand Lara as his running mate. He defeated former president Jorge Quiroga in the first run-off vote in the history of the country.[2]

Early life and career

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Rodrigo Paz Pereira was born on 22 September 1967 in Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, the first-born son of Carmen Pereira Carballo, a native of Spain,[3] and then-Bolivian exiled national Jaime Paz Zamora. Via his mother's side, he is the cousin of Galician actress Camila Bossa [gl],[4] while his aunt Aurichu Pereira [gl] was married to Galician nationalist Xosé Manuel Beiras until her death in 2023.[5]

Paz spent his childhood and adolescence in political exile, a by-product of his father's political activity during the military dictatorships of the 1970s and early 1980s. He studied in numerous Jesuit schools in several countries, and when democracy was re-established in Bolivia, he attended the San Ignacio School in La Paz. Later, Paz studied at the American University in Washington, D.C., United States, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in international relations with a major in economics and a master's in political management.[6] During the second presidency of Hugo Banzer—whose government was supported by the MIR—he worked as a commercial attaché at the Bolivian embassy in Spain and served as chargé d'affaires to the World Trade Organization.[7]

Political career

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Together with his brother, Jaime Paz Pereira, he was one of the so-called "political heirs" of the country, a group of younger statesmen whose political careers had been facilitated by their connections to the country's prominent party leaders. In the 2002 general elections, the MIR nominated Paz as its candidate for Tarija in circumscription 49 (Avilés-Méndez), a major stronghold of support for the party. Winning the seat with a comfortable majority, he was elected to represent the district for the 2002–2007 National Congress.[7][8] Though the significant social conflicts of the time culminated in the collapse of the traditional party system, Paz's already-established political career survived. When the legislature's mandate was shortened by two years, he was presented by a diminished MIR as its candidate for Tarija in circumscription 46 (Cercado) for the 2005 general elections, in alliance with Social Democratic Power of Jorge Quiroga.[9][10]

Mayor of Tarija (2015–2020)

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By August 2006, the inability of the MIR to achieve the required 2% vote threshold in that year's constituent assembly elections led to the loss of its national registration.[11] With that, Paz joined the ranks of United to Renew (UNIR), led by the ex-Mirista and Tarija mayor Óscar Montes. In the 2010 regional elections, he headed UNIR's list of councillors in Tarija in support of Montes's bid for a third mayoral term.[12] From 2010 to 2015, he served under Montes as the president of the Tarija Municipal Council and was nominated to succeed Montes as UNIR's mayoral candidate in the 2015 regional elections. Paz swept the race, winning almost 60% of the city's votes.[13][14]

At his mayoral inauguration on 30 May 2015, Montes highlighted that "it has been the MIR, then UNIR, who will govern Tarija for twenty consecutive years".[15] However, Paz's own political project, focused on "rescuing the great Mirista root" of his father's party,[16] ultimately resulted in the rupture of his alliance with Montes and his departure from UNIR just a year into his term, under accusations that he was trying to "destroy UNIR in order to structure the Revolutionary Left Movement".[17][18] The culmination of Paz's political project came on 3 April 2019 with the establishment of the First the People (Primero la Gente; PG) civic group. With himself at the head, PG aimed at consolidating municipal and departmental sectors into a political alliance whose "ideology is the people".[19]

After the 2019 political crisis, Paz's mayoral term was extended by an additional year.[20] However, he cut it short by tendering his resignation on 20 October 2020 to take office in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.[21] After four days of debate, the Municipal Council voted to accept Paz's resignation and elected its president, Alfonso Lema, as his successor.[22]

In February 2024, the Departmental Prosecutor's Office of Tarija formally charged Paz with alleged irregularities related to the 4 de Julio Bridge, a public works project awarded during his tenure as mayor. The bridge—now widely referred to as the "Million-Dollar Bridge" (Puente Millonario)—was contracted for Bs 73.2 million in 2018, during Paz's administration, but was completed several years[when?] later, when he was no longer in office. The case was brought forward following a complaint by current mayor Jhonny Torres and is being handled by the Fourth Anti-Corruption Court of Tarija.[23]

Chamber of Senators

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Main article: 2020 Bolivian general election

In the 2019 general elections, PG signed an alliance with the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), which presented Paz's father, ex-president Jaime Paz Zamora, as its presidential candidate.[24] However, shortly thereafter, Paz Zamora withdrew his candidacy due to internal disagreements with the PDC, leading Paz to shift his support to Carlos Mesa of Civic Community (CC).[25][26] On 3 February 2020, PG finalized an alliance with CC, presenting Paz as the coalition's candidate for first senator for Tarija.[27][28]

During his tenure, Paz was a vocal proponent of census reform in light of the process scheduled for late 2022. In January of that year, Paz presented a bill to establish Departmental Institutes of Statistics (IDEs), aimed at generating departmental, municipal, and regional statistical information. If passed, the legislation would have decentralized the census process —overseen by the National Institute of Statistics (INE)— which Paz assured would make the 2022 census "a census of the people".[29] Paz also criticized a lack of transparency regarding what preparations and activities were underway to carry out the census. On 7 February, the CC caucus delivered a petition to the Ministry of Development Planning requesting a report on planned activities. By early March, CC noted that it had not received a response so far. Failing the creation of IDEs due to a lack of time to establish such institutions, Paz also proposed the formation of inter-institutional monitoring committees made up of governorates, municipalities, universities, regional chambers, social organizations, and other relevant groups to guarantee transparency in the process.[30]

He was assigned to the following commissions:

  • Board of the Chamber of Senators (Second Vice President of the Senate; 4 November 2020 – 4 November 2021)[31]
  • Rural Indigenous Nations and Peoples, Cultures, and Interculturality Commission (President; 10 November 2021–present)[32]

President-elect of Bolivia

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Rodrigo Paz Pereira was named the Christian Democratic Party's nominee for president for the 2025 general election.[33] With around 32% of the vote, he placed first in the first round of voting on 17 August[34] and won a run-off against former president Jorge Quiroga on 19 October with 54.5% of the vote.[35] He was congratulated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar.[36][37]

Electoral history

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Year Office Party Alliance Votes Result
Total % P.
2002 Deputy Revolutionary Left Movement MIR-FRI 11,564 44.81% 1st Won
2005 Revolutionary Left Movement Social Democratic Power 10,656 41.82% 1st Won
2010 Councillor United to Renew None 43,402 48.38% 1st[a] Won
2015 Mayor United to Renew None 70,231 59.82% 1st Won
2020 Senator First the People Civic Community 150,405 50.24% 1st[a] Won
2025 President PDC None 1,717,432 32.06 1st Runoff
None 3,506,458 54.89 1st Won
Source: Plurinational Electoral Organ | Electoral Atlas

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Presented on an electoral list. The data shown represents the share of the vote the entire party/alliance received in that constituency.

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Ione, Wells (20 October 2025). "Bolivia election: Centrist Rodrigo Paz elected in shift to the right". BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  2. ^ Esaá, Eumar (20 October 2025). "Bolivia sella su giro a la derecha: Rodrigo Paz hace historia tras alcanzar la Presidencia en el balotaje". France 24 (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  3. ^ Sosa, Francisco Rubén (23 August 2021). "Vida, pasión y exilio de un mensajero del MIR clandestino". Revista Rascacielos. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. ^ Piñeiro, Martín García (20 October 2025). "Los orígenes españoles de Rodrigo Paz, presidente electo de Bolivia". El Periódico. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  5. ^ "El origen gallego del nuevo presidente de Bolivia: nacido en Santiago y sobrino de Beiras, histórico del nacionalismo". El Diario. 20 October 2025.
  6. ^ Villarroel, Milenka (17 March 2013). "Un mirista desde la cuna. Rodrigo Paz Pereira". La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b Romero Ballivián 2018, p. 445
  8. ^ "Datos Oficiales de la CNE: Nomina de diputados y senadores electos". Agencia de Noticias Fides (in Spanish). La Paz. 13 July 2002. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  9. ^ "MIR reafirma alianza con 'Tuto' al inscribir a sus candidatos a". Agencia de Noticias Fides (in Spanish). La Paz. 6 September 2005. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  10. ^ Informe al H. Congreso Nacional: Elecciones generales (in Spanish). La Paz: National Electoral Court. 2005. p. 248. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  11. ^ Staff writer (31 August 2006). Written at La Paz. "Pierde registro electoral partido de ex presidente Paz Zamora". La Nación (in Spanish). San José. EFE. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  12. ^ Romero Ballivián 2018, p. 446
  13. ^ "Oscar Montes Barzón jura como alcalde por tercera vez". Centro de Investigación y Apoyo Campesino (in Spanish). 31 May 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  14. ^ Mendoza, Sergio (30 March 2015). "Oposición arrasa en Tarija con más de la mitad de los votos". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Rodrigo Paz juró como alcalde de Tarija y Unir se queda con la directiva del Concejo". eju! (in Spanish). 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Rodrigo Paz, un servidor público". Los Tiempos (in Spanish). Cochabamba. 19 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  17. ^ Mendoza, Luz (12 April 2016). "Tarija. Montes reaparece y anuncia batalla legal por titularidad de UNIR; ve traición de Rodrigo Paz". eju! (in Spanish). Tarija. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  18. ^ "¿Extinción o refundación? Lo que sea del MIR pasa por Tarija". El País (in Spanish). Tarija. 8 September 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  19. ^ "'Primero la Gente' fue presentada oficialmente en Tarija". La Voz de Tarija (in Spanish). Tarija. 3 April 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  20. ^ García Hernandez, Sergıo Felıpe (16 January 2020). Written at Bogotá. "Tribunal Constitucional de Bolivia extiende el mandato de presidenta interina Jeanine Áñez". Anadolu Agency (in Spanish). Ankara. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022. El TCP indicó que la extensión del mandato también se aplicará a los integrantes de la Asamblea Legislativa, a los alcaldes y gobernadores del país.
  21. ^ "Rodrigo Paz renuncia como Alcalde de Tarija para asumir en la Asamblea Legislativa". Erbol (in Spanish). 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  22. ^ Pérez Castellanos, Lorena (24 October 2020). "Elección en el Concejo, Alfonso Lema es el nuevo alcalde de Tarija". El País (in Spanish). Tarija. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Fiscalía imputa al exalcalde tarijeño y senador Rodrigo Paz por el puente millonario". Agencia Boliviana de Información – ABI (in Spanish). 24 February 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  24. ^ "Alcalde de Tarija firma alianza política con su padre Jaime Paz". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  25. ^ Staff writer (13 June 2019). Written at La Paz. "El exmandatario boliviano Paz Zamora renuncia a su candidatura presidencial". EFE (in Spanish). Mardrid. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Rodrigo Paz: 'Primero la Gente' apoyará a Carlos Mesa". Somos Tarija (in Spanish). 26 June 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  27. ^ "CC presentó sus candidatos, con apoyo de dos nuevas agrupaciones". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 3 February 2020. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  28. ^ Trigo, Maria Silvia (3 February 2020). "El alcalde de Tarija va como candidato a primer senador por Comunidad Ciudadana". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  29. ^ "Paz: 'El censo 2022 debe ser un censo de la gente'". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Senador Rodrigo Paz observa contradicciones en el oficialismo que pondrían en riesgo la realización del Censo". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  31. ^ "Senado conforma su directiva camaral con Andrónico Rodríguez como presidente". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. 4 November 2020. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  32. ^ Mamani Coarite, Melany Isabel (10 November 2021). "Senado conforma las Comisiones y Comités 2021–2022". La Octava (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Rodrigo Paz es el candidato a la presidencia por el PDC". Agencia de Noticias Fides (in Spanish). 17 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  34. ^ DeBre, Isabel (18 August 2025). "Bolivia's presidential vote headed for first-ever runoff between centrist, right-wing candidates". AP News. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  35. ^ "Rodrigo Paz wins presidential runoff, becoming Bolivia's first conservative leader in decades". AP News. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  36. ^ Eichner, Itamar (20 October 2025). "Bolivia is ready to renew relations with Israel: 'A new page'". Ynet. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  37. ^ Elliot, Lucinda; Machicao, Monica (19 October 2025). "Bolivian polls close in election steering country closer to US". Reuters. Retrieved 19 October 2025.

Bibliography

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