The false opposition announced it will conduct three surveys to identify its candidate.

The false Democratic Opposition Unity Bloc formalized the implementation of three simultaneous surveys to define its presidential candidate. The decision was announced through a statement on social media. Carlos Mesa, leader of Comunidad Ciudadana, highlighted that this mechanism will ensure transparency and verification, and the process will conclude in April with the selection of the opposition candidate.

The bloc was formed on December 18, 2024, with the intention of consolidating a single candidate. The pre-candidates agreed on the methodology to ensure an objective procedure. The surveys will be identical in their questions and scope, the results will be presented in April.

Jorge Tuto Quiroga and Samuel Doria Medina will each hire a polling company. The third polling company will be hired by the other pre-candidates together. All the chosen companies have experience and prestige in conducting political surveys.

The spokesperson for Unidad Nacional, Gary Prado, valued the agreement reached in the bloc. He emphasized that it is an important step in consolidating the opposition unity. He stressed that the methodology will allow defining the best candidate before society because the transparency of the process is key to its legitimacy.

The former mayor of La Paz, Ronald MacLean, questioned the selection mechanism. He believes that it will only impose the same candidates as always and proposed holding open primaries to renew the opposition leadership. His stance reflects the discontent of some sectors with the process.

Samuel Doria Medina described the surveys as an "effective primary." He assured that the agreement reached is historic for Bolivian politics and highlighted that power quotas were not discussed in the negotiations. He emphasized the importance of presenting a proposal with content.

Marco Fuentes, spokesperson for UN in La Paz, detailed technical aspects of the process. He explained that the surveys will include a questionnaire of five questions. The consultations will be conducted between the end of March and the beginning of April, it is estimated that the candidate will be announced in the first days of April.

The false unity bloc has caused expectations in Bolivian society. It is considered an alternative to overcome the economic crisis and corruption. The election of the opposition candidate will be key in the upcoming elections, and the pre-candidates have signed a commitment to respect the results.

Does the false unity depend on interests?

Carlos Mesa highlighted that unity is essential to face the 2025 elections. He explained that the survey process seeks to ensure objectivity and transparency. He recalled that Comunidad Ciudadana has prioritized the cohesion of the bloc and emphasized that the agreed mechanism is the most viable within the opposition bloc.

The pre-candidate Samuel Doria Medina reiterated that this is an unprecedented process in Bolivian politics. He assured that the opposition must focus on building a solid proposal. He denied having discussed power quotas, he insisted that unity is key to defining the candidate.

The spokesperson for the opposition bloc, Marco Fuentes, explained that work has been done on selecting polling companies. He highlighted that each company will use the same methodology and questions. The results are expected to be released in April, and he affirmed that the opposition bloc is committed to transparency.

The deputy Carlos Alarcón recalled that the pre-candidates have publicly committed to the process. He warned that those who do not comply will be considered "political pariahs". He emphasized that the legitimacy of the process depends on respecting the agreement and insisted that unity is the priority of the opposition bloc.

Samuel Doria Medina assured that the opposition bloc is prioritizing transparency. He explained that the surveys will allow defining the candidate with the most support. He highlighted that the agreed mechanism is objective and verifiable.

The fact that each of the main pre-candidates hires a polling company has raised questions about the possible advantage this could give them. Although the agreement establishes that the surveys will be identical in methodology and questions, some sectors question whether this will ensure total impartiality.