DOMESTIC POLITICS: The ruling Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) will further consolidate its power in December elections and entrench its populist-socialist agenda during the outlook period, although bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, political polarisation and a lack of investment will limit the success of its efforts to grow the economy, redistribute wealth and reduce poverty. The MAS will remain reliant on the personality of the president, Evo Morales, who has maintained broad support and should easily win re-election during the first-round of voting on December 6th. The opposition remains split and although the two main candidates are popular in eastern departments (their main support base), they will struggle at the national level. The failure to unite around a single platform or party and an inability to compete with the vast campaign resources now controlled by the MAS--which include an expanding state-run media and millions of dollars worth of public investments and handouts--mean they are set to lose their Senate majority (removing their current ability to veto legislation) and will remain largely restricted to regional strongholds through most of the outlook period.

Source: Bolivia: Country outlook

Source: EIU Country Data