Bolivia's two conservative, capitalist presidential candidates, voted in Sunday's runoff election, ushering in a new political era after 20 years of almost continuous rule by the Movement Toward Socialism party.

The race is in a dead heat as voters, looking for a leader to lift them out of their country’s worst economic crisis in decades, choose between former right-wing President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga and centrist Sen. Rodrigo Paz.

Since 2023, the Andean nation has been crippled by a shortage of U.S. dollars that has locked Bolivians out of their own savings and hampered imports.

Year-on-year inflation soared to 23% last month, the highest rate since 1991. Fuel shortages paralyze the country, with motorists often waiting days in line to fill up their tanks.

Both candidates have promised to end Bolivia’s fixed exchange rate, restructure state-owned companies and lure foreign investment.

AP video by Victor R. Caivano, Fernando Rojas and Carlos Guerrero.