STORY: Bolivia's election winner Rodrigo Paz said on Sunday (October 19) he will end the fuel shortage gripping the country after winning 54.5% of the vote, defeating his opponent Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga.

Paz spoke after the Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced preliminary results and Quiroga conceded defeat.

The 58-year-old senator's win marks a historic shift for the South American country, governed almost continuously since 2006 by Bolivia's Movement to Socialism, or MAS, which once enjoyed overwhelming support from the country's Indigenous majority.

Bolivia's fragile economy dominated the runoff campaign. Once plentiful natural gas exports have plummeted, inflation is at a 40-year high, and fuel is scarce.

In late September, Paz unveiled plans for a $1.5 billion economic cooperation deal with U.S. officials to ensure fuel supplies.

The new president takes office on November 8.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL JORGE QUIROGA/

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS HIGHER-QUALITY FOOTAGE AND NEW SHOTS THAN 5030-BOLIVIA-ELECTION/WINNER.

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. BOLIVIA’S ELECTION WINNER, RODRIGO PAZ, ON STAGE WAVING AT SUPPORTERS

2. SUPPORTERS CHEERING

3. PAZ WAVING BOLIVIAN FLAG

4. MEDIA FILMING

5. PAZ GREETING SUPPORTERS

6. SUPPORTERS APPLAUDING

7. PAZ SPEAKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIA’S ELECTION WINNER, RODRIGO PAZ, SAYING:

"Starting November 8, Bolivia will no longer face fuel shortages. With the support of partner nations we've engaged, every step we've taken has been in service of the Bolivian people. Our goal is to establish a stable government and begin the transformative changes that lie ahead."

9. PAZ SINGING ANTHEM

10. MEDIA FILMING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIA’S ELECTION WINNER, RODRIGO PAZ, SAYING:

“The homeland has allowed us to stay for another round and in the second round we repeated to exhaustion that if the Bolivian people didn’t elect us, we would extend our hand in support to the winner. Today, from a place of victory, we extend that same hand to govern alongside all men and women who love the homeland.”

12. CAMPAIGN SIGN SHOWING PAZ AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE EDMAN LARA

13. ATTENDEES LISTENING

14. PAZ SPEAKING

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIA’S ELECTION WINNER, RODRIGO PAZ, SAYING:

“You don’t charge anything, what you do for the homeland, you do it because you want to. If you don’t see it this way, you may not understand why the homeland needs us today more than ever.”

16. ATTENDEES LISTENING

17. PAZ CELEBRATING ON STAG