Now, on October 19, Bolivians will hold presidential runoff for the first time—an option only introduced in the 2009 Constitution. As voters prepare to pick their next president, AS/COA online looks at dark horse candidate Paz, the collapse of MAS, and the composition of the next national legislature.

LA PAZ (Reuters) -Bolivian presidential candidate Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga said he would dole out ownership stakes in key natural resources like lithium if elected in October as part of sweeping economic reforms,

A seismic political shift has taken place in Bolivia. The country’s leftist Movimiento al Socialismo (Mas) party, which has dominated Bolivian politics for nearly 20 years, was voted out of power in a general election on August 17.

The election marks a significant political shift, following the worst electoral defeat for the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) party in two decades. Paz led the initial round, and the outcome will now depend on which candidate can win over the supporters of eliminated rivals.

The return to power of the far right in Bolivia proves once again that bourgeois nationalism only serves to disarm the working class.

Bolivians reacted on Monday to the election results that has the South American country headed to an unprecedented runoff after Sunday's vote that ended more than two decades of left-wing dominance in the Andean nation.