Bolivia’s Indigenous Support for Ruling Socialists Collapses Ahead of 2025 Election

Once the backbone of Bolivia’s ruling socialist party, MAS, Indigenous voters  especially from Aymara and Quechua communities   are turning away from the leftist movement ahead of the August 17 general election. The shift marks a dramatic political change in a country where more than 60% of the population identifies as Indigenous. These groups played a central role in the rise of former President Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous leader, who dominated the country’s politics for over a decade.

However, younger voters say identity politics no longer carry the same weight. Instead, they are focused on unmet needs such as healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. Influential voices like Sayuri Loza and Lirio Fuertes   both of Indigenous heritage   emphasize that symbolic gestures have not translated into meaningful progress. The MAS party is now polling in the low single digits, while conservative candidates lead, although nearly a third of voters remain undecided. Many younger voters have grown disillusioned with the party’s failure to adapt and address everyday economic realities, creating a major shift in Bolivia’s political landscape.

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Bolivia is facing its worst economic crisis in decades   marked by soaring inflation, a collapsing black market exchange rate, and the decline of gas exports   and voters are holding the ruling MAS party responsible. The crisis has hit Indigenous voters especially hard, shifting their priorities away from ethnic representation and toward financial survival. This “wallet vote,” as experts describe it, is now outweighing traditional loyalty to the party of Evo Morales.

The MAS brand has also been damaged by Morales’ controversial legacy. Once seen as a symbol of hope, he is now in hiding following criminal allegations, and his faction is blamed by many for corruption and authoritarianism. Younger Indigenous voters no longer associate him or MAS with progress or dignity. Despite this, they remain skeptical of the conservative opposition, which many feel still does not represent Indigenous values or realities.

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Polls show right-wing candidates Samuel Doria Medina and Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga leading the race, but both lack majority support. A runoff in October is likely. Political analysts say Bolivia’s changing social structure and emerging Indigenous middle class mean this election may permanently redefine the country’s political alignment.