The Path To Becoming Bolivia's President

To become the president of Bolivia, a candidate must be directly elected by popular vote to serve a five-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms a president may serve. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two candidates advance to a runoff election.

Bolivia's incumbent president is Luis Arce, who assumed office on 8 November 2020. Arce is a member of the Movement for Socialism and previously served as minister of finance and minister of economy and public finance.

Evo Morales, Bolivia's 65th president, served the longest term in the country's history, over thirteen years, before resigning in 2019.

Be a Bolivian citizen

To become the president of Bolivia, it is imperative that you are a citizen of the country. This is a fundamental requirement that must be met by anyone aspiring to hold the highest office in the land. Bolivian citizenship is typically acquired through birth, descent, or naturalization. If you were born in Bolivia to Bolivian parents, you are automatically considered a citizen. Additionally, if at least one of your parents is a Bolivian citizen, you are also entitled to citizenship. For those who do not meet these criteria, the path to citizenship involves naturalization, which entails fulfilling specific requirements such as residing in the country for a certain period, demonstrating proficiency in the Spanish language, and renouncing any previous citizenship. Obtaining Bolivian citizenship is a crucial step towards becoming the country's president, as it establishes your eligibility and connection to the nation.

Be at least 35 years old

To become the president of Bolivia, you must be at least 35 years old. The current president, Luis Arce, was born on 28 September 1963 and is therefore currently 60 years old. Arce was inaugurated as the 67th president of Bolivia on 8 November 2020.

The previous president, Evo Morales, was born on 26 October 1959 and was 46 years old when he was inaugurated as the 65th president of Bolivia on 22 January 2006. Morales served as president for almost 14 years until his resignation in 2019.

Be nominated by a political party or run as an independent

To become the president of Bolivia, you must be nominated by a political party or run as an independent candidate. The president is directly elected by the Bolivian people to a five-year term, with no limit on the number of terms a president may serve.

Bolivia's current president, Luis Arce, is a member of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party. Arce was nominated as the MAS's presidential candidate in the 2020 elections, after serving as the country's finance minister under former president Evo Morales.

Evo Morales, Bolivia's 65th president, was a member of the MAS party and served as the country's president from 2006 to 2019. Morales was the country's first president to come from its indigenous population.

To be nominated by a political party or run as an independent candidate for the Bolivian presidency, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a natural-born citizen of Bolivia
• Be at least 35 years old
• Be registered to vote
• Not have previously served two consecutive terms as president (as per the 2009 Political Constitution)

Win a popular vote or, if no candidate wins a majority, advance to a runoff election

To become the president of Bolivia, a candidate must win a popular vote. If no candidate wins a majority, defined as more than 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the second-place candidate, the top two candidates advance to a runoff election.

Bolivia's president is directly elected by the people, by majority. The president is the head of state and head of government of Bolivia and the captain-general of the Armed Forces of Bolivia. The president is elected to a five-year term with no limit on the number of terms a president may serve.

The most recent election in Bolivia was held on 18 October 2020, with Luis Arce of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party winning 55% of the vote in the first round. Arce's main opponents, Carlos Mesa and Luis Fernando Camacho, received 29% and 14% of the vote, respectively.

The previous election, held on 20 October 2019, resulted in widespread protests due to disputes over the transparency and legitimacy of the election. Incumbent President Evo Morales was declared the winner with 47.08% of the vote, which was greater than a ten-point margin over his nearest competitor, Carlos Mesa. This was enough for Morales to be announced as the winner without a runoff second-round vote. However, there were allegations of clear manipulation and significant irregularities, and Morales eventually agreed to hold new elections.

Serve a five-year term with no limit on the number of terms

The President of Bolivia is the head of state and head of government of Bolivia, directly elected to a five-year term by the Bolivian people. The current president, Luis Arce, was inaugurated on 8 November 2020, and his five-year term will end in 2025.

According to the Bolivian Constitution, there is no limit on the number of terms a president may serve. This means that Arce could run for re-election in 2025 and continue to serve as president beyond his first term.

The length of the presidential term in Bolivia has changed over time. The 2009 Political Constitution extended the term of the president from four years to five years while keeping the two-term limit. However, in 2017, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruled that all elected officials could run for office indefinitely, rather than for the two consecutive terms permitted under the 2009 Constitution.

The first president of Bolivia, Simón Bolívar, was elected in 1825, and the country has had 67 presidents since then. Evo Morales, who served as president from 2006 to 2019, is the only president to have served more than two consecutive terms.

Frequently asked questions