Crisis-hit Bolivia looks to the right for economic salvation

BOLIVIA was to choose between two pro-business candidates in presidential elections yesterday, ending two decades of socialist rule that have left the beleaguered South American nation deep in economic crisis.

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With dollars and fuel in short supply and annual inflation at more than 20%, weary voters snubbed the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party founded by former president Evo Morales in a first electoral round in August.

Yesterday, they were to electone of two die-hard MAS opponents: economist and senator Rodrigo Paz, 58, or former interim president Jorge Quiroga, 65, an engineer by training.

The election closed out an economic experiment marked by initial prosperity funded by Morales’ nationalization of gas reserves.

The boom was followed by bust, notably critical shortages of fuel and foreign currency under outgoing leader Luis Arce.