On September 18, 2025, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted an in-person roundtable with Rodrigo Paz, a candidate for president in Bolivia’s 2025 elections, to discuss his assessment of the country’s political and economic landscape, his priorities if elected, and his views on the future of U.S.–Bolivia relations.
Paz opened by noting that approximately 85 percent of Bolivia’s economy is informal, describing this as one of the country’s most pressing challenges. He pledged to confront the problem by reducing taxes and tariffs, measures he said would encourage more economic actors to enter the formal sector while laying the groundwork for a more equitable distribution of wealth.
He observed that hydrocarbons no longer sustain the economy and emphasized that there is a broad consensus in Bolivia about the depletion of such reserves. In this new context, Paz argued that the country must “demonstrate its utility in the global economy” and recognized that reestablishing relations with the United States would be essential to that effort.
Paz identified low productivity as a central economic problem and pointed to the need for reforms carried out in cooperation with strategic partners. He stressed the importance of strengthening the lithium sector, which he described as one of the country’s most promising opportunities to integrate into international markets and generate sustainable development. He added that Bolivia must reposition itself as a useful and dynamic player in the Americas.
On governance, Paz underscored the importance of reestablishing the rule of law and judicial autonomy and of reinforcing democratic values. He declared his personal commitment not to run for reelection, emphasizing that constitutional reforms and clear institutional interpretations are needed to prevent abuses of power. As a crucial step toward rebuilding confidence, he called for the legitimization of the Supreme Electoral Council to ensure trust in democratic institutions.
Paz also highlighted the need to foster greater national unity and cooperation. He noted that Bolivians have shown tremendous resilience in the face of adversity. He proposed a model of “popular nationalism” focused on empowering regions, ensuring effectiveness, and promoting collaboration across society. In his view, Bolivia owes its regions more responsive governance and a stronger framework of cooperation to achieve lasting progress.
“More than ever, we need cooperation,” he concluded, pointing to Bolivia’s resilience and stressing the importance of partnerships at home and abroad to ensure the country’s future stability and prosperity.
This event was by invitation only.
