Bolivia's New President Rodrigo Paz Thanks God for Electoral Victory
Rodrigo Paz, who was elected as the next president of Bolivia, expressed gratitude to God for the victory after two decades of leftist control over the South American country.
"I want, first of all, to thank our God for his energy, for his faith, for his strength, for his audacity," Paz, 58, said in a post-election victory speech on Sunday.
"He is a blessed God who also gives the audacity to make decisions that affect the country, that lead to moments like these," he added. "God, family, and homeland are the foundation of a vision we have regarding our commitment to all of Bolivia, to all Bolivians."
Paz concluded his speech by vowing to "work all the hours God gives me to transform" and ended his address with the words, "God bless you," The Christian Post reported.
Paz, a senator from the Christian Democratic Party and son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, won 32.1% of the vote in the first round, while Quiroga won 26.8% in a runoff election on Sunday after receiving the highest number of votes in the Aug. 17 general election. According to unofficial election results, it was revealed that Paz captured 54.96% of the vote.
Meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Party won 49 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 16 seats in the Senate, while the Libre Party won 12 seats in the Senate and 39 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
Paz's victory resulted in the diminishing influence of The Movement Towards Socialism, the party currently in power, as it now has only two seats in the Chamber of Deputies and will have no representation in the Senate.
In a statement on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Paz's election win as a "historic moment for Bolivia."
"After two decades of mismanagement, President-elect Paz's election marks a transformative opportunity for both nations," Rubio said.
"The United States stands ready to partner with Bolivia on shared priorities, including ending illegal immigration, improved market access for bilateral investment, and combating transnational criminal organizations to strengthen regional security."
Bolivia and the U.S. previously had a strained relationship since 2008, over "the Bolivian government's decision to expel the U.S. ambassador, U.S. law enforcement, and development cooperation agencies," according to a fact sheet compiled by the U.S. State Department in 2024.
The fact sheet noted "anti-democratic actions and the politicization of the legal system" as significant issues in Bolivia.
Paz, who has a master's in political management from American University (Washington, D.C.), promised to restore Bolivia's relationship with Washington.
"The message from Mr. Trump's administration itself is a very clear and open signal," Paz said in a press conference on Monday, according to the Associated Press. "We will have a fluid relationship and commitments to cooperation and joint work between both nations."
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/MARTIN BERNETTI / Contributor
Originally published October 23, 2025.
