Whoever wins the second round of elections in Bolivia this Sunday, relations with the Brazilian government must be remodeled after two decades of socialist-leaning governments. On the G1 portal, Bolivian political scientist Moira Zuazo said she sees some common agendas between the candidates, but other different proposals, including how relations with Brazil and Donald Trump’s government should be.
Candidates Rodrigo Paz and Jorge Tuto Quiroga took advantage of the implosion of left-wing forces in the country to emerge as favorites in the dispute, promising pro-market changes in the economy, with some differences in the program to be applied. But in geopolitical terms, they should help the country shape the direction of the new right in Latin America, says the portal.
Regarding the future relationship with Brazil, Paz, despite disagreeing with the Lula government, stated during the campaign that “Brazil is our main strategic partner” and, therefore, wants to strengthen Bolivia’s partnership with Brazil, maintaining the Andean country’s participation in Mercosur and Brics.
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During the campaign, he also proposed more economic cooperation and joint infrastructure projects between nations.
Quiroga, on the other hand, signaled a tougher relationship with the Lula government. He says he is against Bolivia’s integration into Mercosur, and spoke of maintaining independent and selective bilateral relations. “We need to redefine our cooperation with Brazil, without institutional ties that limit our sovereignty,” he said in the campaign.
At another point, the former Bolivian president hinted at “traditional cooperation” between the two countries.
It is believed that pragmatism should prevail. In 2019, socialist Evo Morales was inaugurated by Jair Bolsonaro, for example.
Regarding the relationship between the future Bolivian government and Donal Trump, the report recalls that contacts with the US cooled down over the 20 years of power of the Movement to Socialism (MAS) party, aligned with China, Iran and Russia, but that they never broke up.
Rodrigo Paz, for example, spoke in the campaign about a “pragmatic approach” with the USA and guaranteed that he will not be guided by ideological alignments in international diplomacy. Seen as a moderate in relations with other countries, he also stated that “ideologies do not put food on the table”.
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Quiroga, in turn, promised to “unfreeze” relations with the US and get closer to Donald Trump’s government. He has shown admiration for Trump several times, and presents himself as a “pro-USA liberal”.
The former president also recently praised the mediation carried out by the North American in conflicts such as those in Gaza and Ukraine and repeated that he intends to rebuild a “strong and pragmatic relationship” with the USA, seeking economic and political support to face the crisis in the country.
