Doria Medina, 66, is one of the richest entrepreneurs in the country; He defines himself as a social democrat and leads preferences for August 17 elections with 18.7%
A month from the elections in Boliviathe center-right entrepreneur Samuel Doria Medina He is the favorite in research and promises to change the left -wing economic model defended for 20 years by the ruler movement to socialism (but). Doria Medina, 66, is one of the richest entrepreneurs in the country. He defines himself as a social democrat and leads preferences for August 17 elections with 18.7%, according to a recent survey by consulting firm ipsosmori.
“There will begin a new stage where the most important thing will be to recover economic stability and then be able to make a series of profound changes to get out of statism and have a competitive, market -open capitalist economy,” said the coalition candidate Aliança Unit in an interview with AFP.
Bolivian’s main concern today is the economic crisis, caused by dollar shortages and excessive public spending. Social protests point to the president Luis Arceformer Minister of Economics of the former President Evo Moralesas the main responsible.
Bolivia has almost exhausted its foreign currency reserves to support a fuel subsidies policy, which are imported at international prices and sold at loss in the domestic market. Inflation shot and reached 23.9% in June in the annual comparison, the highest level at least since 2008.
Although the government claims that it will not cut subsidies to avoid even greater increase in inflation, Doria Medina promises to eliminate them to save dollars in the first 100 days of a possible government. He claims that he does not fear an economic shock. “This shock has already occurred (…),” he said, referring to the increase in food prices.
The candidate also promises to eliminate “locks” from the 2009 Constitution, promoted by former President Evo Morales, to allow foreign investment to exploit with Bolivia’s natural resources more freedom. “We are witnessing the end of a stage that lasted 20 years. There has been advances in inclusion, but unfortunately a mistaken model was applied,” he concluded. Morales arrived in power in 2006 with statizing policies that were continued in 2020 by his former minister Luis Arce.
Doria Medina is closely followed in the polls by former right-wing president Jorge Quiroga, with 18.1% of voting intentions. A block of leftist candidates, linked to the governor but pays the political price by an economic model that, according to Doria Medina, is exhausted.
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The three candidates associated with MAS are far from the leadership in the polls: the Senate President, Andronics Rodríguez (11.8%); Former Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo (2.3%); and the mayor of the city of El Alto, Eva Copa (0.6%).
*With information from AFP
Posted by Nátaly Tenório
Source: Jovempan
I have been working as a journalist for over 10 years. In that time, I have covered the news from all corners of the world, and written about everything from politics to business.I’m now a full-time author, and my work can be found at Global happenings. My aim is to bring you up-to-date news and views on global affairs, in a format that is easy to read and understand.
