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1 1 (August 14, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/ustr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional a Research Service Informing the egisltive debate since 1914____________________ Bolivia's 2025 Elections: Implications for U.S. Policy August 14, 2025 Bolivia is scheduled to hold presidential and legislative elections on August 17, 2025. A possible change in government could shift Bolivia's policies after two decades of nearly continuous governance under the leftist Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party. Internal party divisions and deteriorating economic conditions have fractured MAS's political support, increasing uncertainty about the election outcome. U.S.-Bolivia relations have been strained under MAS governance, in part due to Bolivia's coca policies and certain positions the Bolivian government has taken, for example, on electoral outcomes in Venezuela. The United States and Bolivia have not exchanged ambassadors since 2008. Some Members of Congress, at times, have expressed interest in Bolivia's democratic processes and U.S.- Bolivia relations. In 2019, some Members expressed serious concern about irregularities in Bolivia's elections. Some Members also expressed concerns about alleged human rights and civil liberties violations under an interim government (2019-2020) and political interference in Bolivia's justice system. The 119th Congress may assess the implications of Bolivia's electoral process for U.S. relations as it conducts foreign policy oversight and exercises other legislative prerogatives. Electoral Context Bolivians are scheduled to elect a president, vice president, and members of the 130-member Chamber of Deputies and 36-member Senate. In the presidential race, if no candidate secures a sufficient number of votes, then a runoff election is to be held on October 19, 2025. All elected officials are set to serve five- year terms, beginning on November 8, 2025. Some of Bolivia's past electoral processes have been marred by irregularities. Allegations of voter fraud in October 2019 elections contributed to the resignation of former president and MAS founder Evo Morales (2006-2019); a political crisis and nearly a year of governance under an interim government ensued. National elections in October 2020, which observers assessed to be generally free and fair, resulted in the election of current President Luis Arce. The Arce administration has faced several challenges. A power struggle within MAS between Arce and Morales supporters has split the party into competing factions. Bolivia also has grappled with an economic downturn, despite the country's considerable natural resources. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12593 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress