Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal Announces 2025 General Elections Date
Photo: @CNN
January 24, 2025 Hour: 1:42 pm
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of Bolivia officially announced that the 2025 general elections will take place on August 17, 2025.
Related:
Bolivian Police Clash with Protesters Demanding Arce’s Resignation Amidst Growing Social Unrest
Oscar Hassenteufel, president of the TSE, disclosed the decision during a recess in the Plenary Chamber meeting held in Santa Cruz. Initially, the TSE considered holding the elections on August 10 to avoid overlapping with the Urkupiña Festival celebrated in Cochabamba on August 15. However, logistical considerations led to the final choice of August 17, as this date allows sufficient time to organize a potential second round in October, in compliance with electoral regulations.
Hassenteufel emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth electoral process, stating:
“Our goal is to safeguard the electoral process so that it begins, unfolds, and concludes within the timelines established by legal norms, without any interference.”
This commitment was reinforced during a prior meeting between TSE officials and magistrates from the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (TCP), who issued a joint statement supporting the stability of Bolivia’s electoral and constitutional system.
Electoral Redistribution and New Cartography
The TSE is also working on updating the country’s electoral map based on Law 1614 on Seat Distribution Among Departments, which utilizes data from the 2024 Population and Housing Census. According to this law:
- Santa Cruz will gain one plurinominal seat, reaching a total of 29 deputies.
- Chuquisaca will lose one deputy, leaving it with 9.
- No changes are expected in other regions.
Political Context and Challenges
The upcoming election is set against a backdrop of political complexity:
- The right-wing opposition is working to consolidate a single candidate to challenge the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS), which has been in power for over 18 years.
- Internally, the MAS is experiencing divisions between factions led by former president Evo Morales and current president Luis Arce.
This internal rift could lead to both factions presenting separate candidates, potentially weakening their electoral prospects.
With preparations underway and the political landscape evolving, the 2025 elections are shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Bolivia’s democracy.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: teleSURtv-Abi