Bolivia concludes a competitive and historic run-off with a well-organised election day and quick publication of preliminary results

The Chief Observer, MEP Davor Stier, congratulated the Bolivian people for their “example of civic spirit and democratic fervor.” He also highlighted that the elections were well-organized and met international standards “thanks to the work of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, particularly its president, Dr. Óscar Hassenteufel.”

For her part, Annalisa Corrado, head of the European Parliament delegation, underlined that Bolivian citizens demonstrated “great democratic maturity and trust in the electoral process, despite years of difficulties and political tensions.” She added that last Sunday, Bolivia “opened wide the doors to a future of hope, and it is now up to its representatives to respond to the clear mandate expressed at the polls.”

The preliminary statement accompanying this press release contains the EU EOM’s first conclusions from the observation of the run-off election. 

Below is a summary of these findings by area of observation:

Context

This historic run-off took place two months after the general elections of 17 August, which ended nearly two decades of dominance by the Movement for Socialism – Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples (MAS-IPSP). The presidential run-off was marked by certain initiatives within the Plurinational Legislative Assembly that sought to suspend the electoral process but ultimately failed, allowing citizens to return to the polls in a civic and orderly atmosphere. On Election day, the European Union deployed more than 120 observers across all departments of the country.

Electoral Campaign

The campaign unfolded without major incidents in a context of respect for fundamental freedoms. However, the tone was marked by negative messaging and controversies surrounding the vice-presidential candidates. The debates organized by the TSE contributed to an informed vote by the electorate.

Legal Framework

The second round revealed ambiguities in the legal framework, particularly regarding candidate resignation and substitution. Following the 17 August vote, several parliamentary and supranational seats remained vacant due to the absence of clear legal procedures for their allocation, forcing the TSE’s Plenary Chamber to decide each case individually without established criteria.

Electoral Administration

The electoral administration conducted the run-off efficiently and even introduced improvements compared with the first round. Technical preparations followed the established calendar despite logistical challenges such as fuel shortages and the onset of the rainy season. The TSE enhanced training for polling station staff and, despite budget constraints, strengthened voter education activities, emphasizing the secrecy of the vote.
The Preliminary Results Transmission System (SIREPRE) was successfully implemented, allowing the publication of initial data shortly before 8:00 p.m. on election day.

Complaints and Electoral Offences

During the run-off, a few isolated complaints were filed regarding alleged irregularities from the first round. These were investigated and dismissed by the Prosecutor’s Office due to lack of evidence. Additionally, some members of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly promoted politically motivated initiatives aimed at suspending the electoral process, but these ultimately did not prosper.

Media

Media coverage of the candidates was largely uneven and polarized. While the EU EOM’s quantitative analysis showed that most monitored outlets provided balanced airtime to both tickets during the final two weeks of the campaign, Alianza Libre accounted for 92% of paid political advertising throughout the campaign period. Free airtime for candidates was limited to a single week on the state broadcaster Bolivia TV. Negative campaigning spread from social networks to traditional media during the run-off, overshadowing the tone of the campaign coverage.

Social Media

The digital political conversation was marked by several scandals involving the vice-presidential candidates. The EU EOM’s Social Media Monitoring Unit detected an increase in racist, sexist, and homophobic content. Online advertising revealed major disparities in resources and transparency, with Alianza Libre outspending the PDC by a wide margin. TikTok, the most strategically used platform by both tickets, still does not provide information on candidates’ campaign spending.

Political Participation of Women

Women achieved a record level of representation in the Legislative Assembly (52% of seats), with a notable presence of those under 35 years of age. However, candidates’ platforms and campaigns showed little gender focus.

Role of Domestic Observers

Citizen observation groups maintained active participation during the run-off, contributing to transparency and public confidence. The platforms Observa Bolivia and Observación Ciudadana de la Democracia deployed observers nationwide. Together with international missions such as those from the OAS, COPPPAL, and UNIORE, around 1,200 observers were accredited in total.

Election Day

Election day was peaceful and transparent, with only minor incidents that did not affect voting operations. EU observers witnessed the opening of 46 polling stations—most assessed as well organized—and observed voting in 389 polling stations across the nine departments, as well as closing procedures in 47 stations. The secrecy of the vote was nearly universal, and electoral materials reached polling centers despite logistical difficulties.
EU observers positively assessed the counting process at polling stations, although in some cases tally sheets were verified hastily. The TSE published preliminary results shortly before 8:00 p.m., having processed more than 98% of the tally sheets nationwide, demonstrating that the preliminary results system was both rapid and efficient.

The full preliminary statement can be downloaded from the following PDF: