Bolivia Considers State of Exception Amidst Protests and Shortages

Bolivia faces a deepening political crisis as the government contemplates declaring a state of exception to bolster security forces amidst ongoing unrest. The Senate has advanced a bill to repeal legal restrictions enacted in 2020, which would grant President Rodrigo Paz broader powers to deploy security personnel.

This legislative move coincides with the fourth consecutive week of road blockades and demonstrations, primarily in the Andean region. The mobilized sectors are unified in their demand for President Paz's resignation. The persistent protests have led to critical shortages of food and fuel in the major cities of La Paz and El Alto, according to Efe news agency.

The proposed legislation aims to permanently revoke the "Law of State of Exception." This law, originally passed during the interim government of Jeanine Áñez, was designed to regulate and limit the executive branch's authority to use security forces during internal turmoil. It specifically prohibits deprivation of liberty as a form of punishment and conditions the deployment of the armed forces to situations where the police are overwhelmed and no other means exist to restore order.

Critics argue that the current law "ties the hands" of the central government, preventing the legitimate use of state force. They also deem it absurd for the legislature to have the power to alter emergency decrees without possessing the necessary technical expertise in security matters during social upheaval. The constitutional article governing states of exception allows for such declarations in cases of grave internal unrest, but explicitly states that constitutional guarantees and fundamental rights cannot be suspended under any circumstances.