Bolivia: Andean-Caribbean leopardism

By: Hugo Marcelo Balderrama - 01/09/2025

Guest columnist.
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The Bolivian electoral process, held on August 17, surprised many, as it was being marketed internationally as a triumph against 21st-century socialism and the end of the left in the country. Sorry, but nothing could be further from the truth. Let's see:

First, the winner of the first round, Rodrigo Paz, is the son of former President Jaime Paz Zamora, who, among other things, was part of the UDP government in the 1980s, the same period that led Bolivia to hyperinflation of 27,000%, and in the 1990s invited Fidel Castro himself to Bolivia. In fact, Paz Zamora came out of retirement to regain prominence in Bolivian politics. Furthermore, the large number of people close to Morales now appearing in the ranks of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) is another source of suspicion.

Second, the calm with which Arce Catacora and Evo Morales embraced the PDC's victory. It wouldn't be surprising if there was a little help from the regime to put Rodrigo Paz in power. The reasons? Impunity, and, most dangerously, using Edman Lara, the vice-presidential candidate, as a wild card for Evo's return to power. In fact, Evo Morales's euphoria regarding the vote, "more for Captain Lara than for Rodrigo," in his own words, is striking. There's a saying: "What you see, you don't question," a phrase that perfectly applies to the sympathy felt by the coca-growing sectors for Lara.

Third, the incendiary speeches, full of populism, very much in the style of Hugo Chávez or Evo Morales. Obviously, economic management and institutional building do not appear, even briefly, amid Lara's bravado. Regarding this, Emilio Martínez, in his article "A Fusible President and a Vice-Evangelist," states:

In power, this flailing president will be unable to handle the inflationary crisis or the planned social unrest. He will be a new Siles Zuazo. In the aforementioned circumstances, Captain Lara, Evo's trump card to regain power, would assume the highest office.

For 21st-Century Socialism, the important thing is to sustain the regime. Then, they can create weasel parties. That is, opposition on the outside, but officialdom on the inside. Rejoicing because the MAS won't have representation in Congress is looking at the trees but forgetting the forest. In any analysis, the regime, the parties, and the government must be separated.

The regime has captured Bolivia since 2003. The headquarters of this criminal organization is located in Havana. Therefore, the country is nothing more than a satellite in its criminal franchise. Did you notice that none of the dictators of 21st-Century Socialism expressed concern about what happened on August 17? The answer is simple: they know nothing happened.

This brings us to the next part: the regime has decided to sacrifice the Movement Toward Socialism to retain power. A leopardism with an Andean-Caribbean flavor: change everything so that, in the end, everything stays the same.

However, in Bolivia the second round is set up as follows:

The PDC, with irresponsible proposals like that of granting subsidized loans. Meanwhile, Tuto Quiroga, with a typically Keynesian plan and a very dangerous gradualism. Under these options, things are even worse than before August 17th. If you ask me, despite all the bad things, Quiroga's alternative is, at the very least, predictable. That is, we know more or less where he'll screw up.

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