Core Viewpoint - The upcoming Bolivian presidential election is marked by a significant shift in political dynamics, with former president Jorge Quiroga of the "Liberty" alliance campaigning on an anti-China and anti-Russia platform, threatening to annul multi-billion dollar lithium mining agreements if elected [1][3]. Group 1: Election Context - The first round of voting concluded on August 17, with Rodrigo Paz Pereira and Jorge Quiroga leading with approximately 32% and 26.7% of the votes, respectively [1][3]. - According to Bolivian law, candidates must secure over 50% of the votes or at least 40% with a 10-point lead over the second candidate to win, necessitating a second round between Quiroga and Pereira on October 19 [3]. Group 2: Political Landscape - The ruling "Movement for Socialism" party faced a historic collapse, with its candidate Eduardo del Castillo receiving only 3.16% of the votes, resulting in a significant loss of congressional seats [3][4]. - Former president Evo Morales's exclusion from the election due to term limits and his subsequent call for invalid votes contributed to the left's political decline [4][5]. Group 3: Economic Factors - Bolivia's lithium resources, estimated at 23 million tons, are crucial for the country's economic future, especially as the nation faces severe economic challenges, including dwindling dollar reserves and soaring inflation [5][7]. - The current government has signed lithium extraction agreements valued at approximately $2 billion with Russian and Chinese companies, which are now under scrutiny due to political opposition [7][8]. Group 4: Future Challenges - Regardless of the election outcome, the new government will confront significant economic challenges, including a drop in foreign reserves from $15.12 billion in 2014 to $2.807 billion in 2023, and an inflation rate of 24% as of June 2025, the highest in 34 years [8][9]. - The potential for social unrest is high if economic conditions do not improve, as public patience may quickly diminish [9].
玻利维亚总统候选人竟嚷嚷：当选后，要搅黄中俄锂矿交易
Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-08-26 09:15