By Nikos Mottas
The results of Sunday's elections in Bolivia were devastating for the leftist “Movement of Socialism” (Movimiento al Socialismo), known by the acronym MAS. Eduardo del Castillo, MAS’s candidate, received only approximately 3 percent of the vote—a historic collapse for a party that had ruled Bolivia for nearly two decades.
This result highlighted deep-seated economic crisis—20–25 percent inflation, fuel and dollar shortages, public frustration—and internal divisions within MAS (notably between Morales-aligned “Evista” and Arce-aligned “Arcista” factions).
