Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Court has reinstated Senate President Andrónico Rodríguez as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, while officially excluding former President Evo Morales from the race.

The decision, announced amid rising political tensions ahead of the August 17 vote, marks a significant shift in the country’s electoral landscape. Rodríguez, a 36-year-old leftist and rising political figure, was previously disqualified over technical issues — a move that had sparked public outcry.

In contrast, the court upheld its ban on Morales, who served as president from 2006 to 2019, citing legal and constitutional barriers that prevent him from running again. The ruling could reshape Bolivia’s political dynamics just months before the election.