【环球财经】玻利维亚新总统能否化解经济困境

Core Viewpoint - The election of Rodrigo Paz Pereira, a center-right candidate from the Christian Democratic Party, marks a significant political shift in Bolivia, ending nearly 20 years of leftist governance. His administration will face the challenge of addressing multiple economic issues and implementing reforms effectively [1][2]. Economic Challenges and Reforms - Bolivia is currently grappling with a shortage of dollars, fuel, and high inflation, which are severely impacting the lives of its citizens. The new government’s primary task will be to navigate the country out of this economic crisis [4][5]. - Paz has proposed eliminating fuel subsidies for the general public and instead providing targeted subsidies for the most vulnerable groups. He aims to increase domestic oil production through restructuring state-owned enterprises, modifying laws, and encouraging private sector participation in the energy industry [4][6]. - The new administration plans to rationalize public spending and seek bilateral cooperation to secure more dollars, advocating for gradual reforms to adjust Bolivia's fixed exchange rate while maintaining social protections for vulnerable populations [4][6]. Political Landscape and Support - Paz's victory is attributed to his ability to attract moderate voters and some supporters from the leftist "Movement for Socialism" party, reflecting a desire for change among the Bolivian populace [2][5]. - His running mate, Edmundo Llara, is seen as a significant asset due to his popularity among younger voters for exposing corruption [3]. Governance and Implementation Challenges - Analysts emphasize that while Paz's vision for governance is ambitious, the specifics of policy implementation remain vague, particularly regarding the equitable distribution of fiscal resources and addressing structural inflation resulting from reforms [6]. - The lack of a single party controlling Bolivia's multi-ethnic legislative assembly may pose challenges to the new government's reform agenda, testing its ability to form coalitions and navigate political obstacles [6].