Argentine President Javier Milei attended the inauguration ceremony of Rodrigo Paz Pereira as Bolivia's new leader on Saturday, marking his first official visit to the neighboring country. Milei's presence drew significant attention at the Plurinational Legislative Assembly in La Paz, where he exchanged greetings with other regional leaders. Both presidents agreed to advance a common agenda, strengthening bilateral ties after two decades of socialism in Bolivia.
Rodrigo Paz Pereira, 58, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, was sworn in as Bolivia's president on November 8, 2025, at the Plurinational Legislative Assembly in La Paz, ending nearly 20 years of socialist dominance by the Movement for Socialism (MAS). An economist trained in the United States and son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, Paz won the October 19 runoff with 54.55% of the votes against Luis Arce. In his inaugural address, he promised gradual adjustments to exit the economic crisis, a 'capitalism for all,' and equal budget distribution between the central government and the nine regions. He criticized the MAS legacy: 'They leave us a broken economy, with the lowest international reserves in 30 years. They leave us inflation, scarcity, debt, and a paralyzed state.' His vice president, Edman Lara, emphasized reconciliation: 'The time for revenge is over, the time for reconciliation has begun. Long live Bolivia and down with corruption.'
Javier Milei arrived at El Alto International Airport around 9:40 local time (13:40 GMT), greeted by outgoing Vice Chancellor Elmer Catarina. Accompanied by his sister Karina Milei, general secretary of the Presidency, and Chancellor Pablo Quirno, Milei attended the solemn session at 11:00 and the staff of command handover at 13:00. His arrival caused a stir: Bolivian legislators and officials welcomed him with applause and selfie requests. In the leaders' box, he shared laughs with Uruguay's Yamandú Orsi, an effusive hug with Paraguay's Santiago Peña and Ecuador's Daniel Noboa, but a distant greeting with Chile's Gabriel Boric.
After the ceremony, Milei held an informal meeting with Paz Pereira, where they agreed on a common agenda. 'I know what you're receiving and I can tell you from my own experience,' Milei said, referring to the political and economic context. Paz replied: 'Good advice will be given and we are good at receiving advice.' Milei added: 'At your service in whatever you think we can help with.' Their ideological affinity, rooted in liberal views and criticism of socialism, opens doors for collaboration on Mercosur trade and investments. The ceremony included presidents from Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay, plus representatives from the United States, Spain, and the European Union; Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua were excluded for not respecting democracy. Milei departed at 14:00 and arrived in Buenos Aires at 17:35.