Rodrigo Paz

**Rodrigo Paz Pereira** (born 22 September 1967) is a Bolivian politician who has been the 68th President of Bolivia since 2025. He is the oldest son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora. He was a senator for Tarija from 2020 until 2025. He was mayor of Tarija from 2015 to 2020. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2002 to 2010.

In the 2025 general election, Paz ran as the candidate for president of the Christian Democratic Party. He beat former president Jorge Quiroga in the first run-off vote in the history of the country. He is the first conservative president in nearly 20 years.

## Early life

Rodrigo Paz Pereira was born on 22 September 1967 in Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, the first-born son of Carmen Pereira Carballo, a citizen of Spain, and then-Bolivian exiled citizen Jaime Paz Zamora.

Paz spent his childhood in political exile, because of his father's political activity during the military dictatorships of the 1970s and early 1980s.

Paz studied at the American University in Washington, D.C., United States, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in international relations with a major in economics and a master's in political management.

## Political career

In the 2002 general elections, the MIR nominated Paz as its candidate for Tarija. He won the election for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.

In 2015, he ran for Mayor of Tarija and won the election in a landslide, winning almost 60% of the city's votes.

After the 2019 political crisis, Paz's mayoral term was extended by an extra year. However, he resigned on 20 October 2020 to take office in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.

## 2025 presidential campaign

Paz was named the Christian Democratic Party's nominee for president for the 2025 general election. Former police officer Edmand Lara was his running mate. With around 32% of the vote, he came in first during the first round of voting on 17 August 2025. He faced former President Jorge Quiroga.

Paz won the run-off, beating Quiroga on 19 October 2025 with 54.5% of the vote. Paz became the first Bolivian president to be elected in a run-off election. He is also the first conservative president in nearly 20 years.

## Personal life

Paz is married to Maria Elena Urquidi and they have four children. His great-uncle is former President Víctor Paz Estenssoro.

## Other websites

- Senate profile  Chamber of Senators .
- Biography by CIDOB (in Spanish)

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Rodrigo Paz
- **image**: Rodrigo Paz, presidente de Bolivia.jpg
- **caption**: Paz Pereira in 2025
- **office**: 68th President of Bolivia
- **vicepresident**: Edmand Lara
- **term start**: 8 November 2025
- **predecessor**: Luis Arce
- **office1**: Chamber of Senators (Bolivia), Senator for Tarija Department, Tarija
- **term start1**: 3 November 2020
- **term end1**: 31 October 2025
- **office2**: Tarija, Mayor of Tarija
- **term start2**: 30 May 2015
- **term end2**: 24 October 2020
- **predecessor2**: Oscar Montes
- **successor2**: Alfonso Lema
- **office3**: President of the Tarija, Tarija Municipal Council
- **term start3**: 30 May 2010
- **term end3**: 30 May 2015
- **predecessor3**: Roberto Ávila Castellanos
- **successor3**: Alfonso Lema
- **office5**: Member of the Chamber of Deputies (Bolivia), Chamber of Deputies
 from Tarija Department, Tarija
- **term start5**: 6 August 2002
- **term end5**: 22 January 2010
- **predecessor5**: Pedro Sagredo
- **successor5**: Roy Cornejo Raña
- **constituency5**: Circumscription 49 <small>(2002–2006)</small>
 Circumscription 46 <small>(2006–2010)</small>
- **birth name**: Rodrigo Paz Pereira
- **birth place**: Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (Spain), Galicia, Francoist Spain, Spain
- **parents**: Jaime Paz Zamora
Carmen Pereira Carballo
- **spouse**: Maria Elena Urquidi
- **children**: 4
- **party**: Christian Democratic Party (Bolivia), PDC (2019; since 2025)
- **otherparty**: Revolutionary Left Movement (Bolivia), MIR–FRI (2002–2005)
Social Democratic Power, PODEMOS (2005–2008)
Civic Community, CC (2020–2025)
- **education**: St Ignatius College, La Paz, San Ignacio School
- **alma mater**: American University
(International relations, BIGS, Political management, MPM)
- **relatives**: Víctor Paz Estenssoro (great-uncle)
 (cousin)
- **citizenship**: Bolivia • Spain