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Bolivia

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

August 2025

General elections are held, presidential race heads to runoff
Election flag

On 17 August, Bolivians voted for president, vice-president and members of the legislature.

Candidates Rodrigo Paz of the Christian Democrat Party (PDC) and former President Jorge Tuto Quiroga of the LIBRE (Liberty and Democracy) alliance  will head to a runoff in October, after receiving 32.1 and 26.7 per cent of the votes, respectively. Voter turnout was 86.9 per cent (a slight decrease from the 88.4 of the previous elections), with mandatory voting. 

The PDC obtained the most seats (65 out of 166) in the Chamber of Deputies. Women’s representation slightly increased in the Chamber of Deputies, reaching parity (compared to the previous 46. 2 per cent), and in the Senate women are expected to maintain a majority.

International observation missions highlighted that elections took place in an overall orderly and peaceful manner, but noted the political polarization, the spread of disinformation and unequal access of candidates to media time in the pre-election phase.

Sources: Organo Electoral PlurinacionalBBCCNNAPOASBolivia Verifica EleccionesEU Election Observation Mission  

Women’s representation in Legislative Assembly reaches record high

Bolivians elected a record number of women in the general elections held on 17 August. An estimated 52.4 per cent of the Legislative Assembly’s seats will be held by women. The Chamber of Deputies will have 66 women lawmakers (out of 130 seats), representing 50.7 per cent (up from the previous 46.2 per cent). Women in the Senate will hold 21 out of the 36 seats (58.3 per cent), an increase from the previous 55.6 per cent.

Sources: La Razon, Bolivia Verifica Elecciones

December 2024

After year of delay, judicial elections partially take place

On 15 December, judicial elections were held for members of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Agro-Environmental Tribunal, and the Council of Magistrates. However, only 19 out of the 26 judgeships were on the ballots. The election of the remaining offices was postponed, after the Fourth Chamber of the Constitutional Court granted injunctions in the selection process of candidates for certain judicial offices in response to legal actions initiated by individuals who wished to stand as candidates. The magistrates of the Fourth Chamber were widely criticized, given that the injunctions resulted in the indefinite extension of their mandates, as their own offices were among those affected by the injunctions. Opposition politicians have also called this an attempt to retain power to favour the ruling party and persecute opponents. Participation was close to 70 per cent (voting is mandatory), with a high percentage of spoiled and blank ballots at 37 per cent. Out of a total of 19 elected judges, nine are women.

Sources: Órgano Electoral Plurinacional, Infobae, El Pais

November 2024

Tribunal gives control of MAS to ‘Arcista’ wing
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On 14 November, a Chamber of the Constitutional Tribunal recognized Grover Garcia, an ally of President Luis Arce, as head of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party. Division within MAS, stemming from a power struggle between former President Evo Morales and Arce, led the party to hold competing assemblies, one in which Morales was chosen as the party’s leader and a second in which ‘Arcistas’ gained leadership positions. The Chamber confirmed the validity of the assembly held by Arce loyalists, taking control of the party from its founder, Morales, despite previous rulings of the Electoral Tribunal that determined both factions had violated the party’s statutes. In a separate ruling it confirmed Morales’s ineligibility to run for president, vice-president or preside the legislature's chambers because he has exceeded the constitutional limit of 10 years as president. Demonstrations in support of Morales continued, with some reports of violence and with Morales temporarily going on hunger strike. Whether Morales continues to call for mobilizations and to seek elected office, remains to be seen.

Sources: Educación Radiofónica de Bolivia, La Razón, El Pais

October 2024

Evo Morales accuses government of assassination attempt

Former President Evo Morales has accused the government of attempting to assassinate him after his vehicle was attacked with gunfire in Cochabamba. Luis Arce’s government refuted this, contending that Morales’s vehicle evaded a checkpoint established in a police operation and ran over a police officer. Officials asserted that police at the checkpoint were shot first by someone in Morales’s vehicle. The mutual accusations take place in the context of heightened political and social conflict due to division within the MAS party. Both Morales and Arce have been accused of sexual misconduct and crimes; both deny the allegations and claim they are politically motivated. A prosecutor issued an arrest warrant against Morales after he did not comply with an order to give a statement in an investigation he faces for statutory rape and trafficking in persons. Morales’s supporters have carried out roadblocks and organized protests against his prosecution. Clashes between protesters and police have left dozens injured. 

Sources: Infobae, Reuters, France 24, BBC, El Pais, The Guardian

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2024

Chevron
Representation
80/173
Rights
98/173
Rule of Law
92/173
Participation
49/173

Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
12 413 315
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
President Luis Arce (since 2020)
Head of government party
Movement for Socialism
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Mixed-member Proportional System
Women in lower or single chamber
46.2%
Women in upper chamber
55.6%
Last legislative election
2020
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
2.46
Head of state
President Luis Arce
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (modified two-round)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
21/01/2025
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
92.73%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
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International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
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International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
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Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
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Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
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Convention on the Rights of the Child
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International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
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International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
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International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
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Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
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Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
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Equal Remuneration Convention
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Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
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Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
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Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
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Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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