Bolivia's president declares state of emergency amid ongoing protests demanding resignation

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency across the country, citing the exhaustion of all dialogue avenues after more than six weeks of protests and road blockades. The demonstrations, which demanded Paz's resignation, were initially triggered by his economic reform proposals.

Paz's decision came shortly after he signed an agreement with the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB), the country's main trade union federation, which led to the end of protests initiated by the union. However, the agreement did not cover all sectors, and some unions continued their demonstrations.

In a televised address, Paz stated that the state of emergency was necessary after exhausting dialogue, reaching agreements with legitimate demands, and identifying those who used violence to destabilize Bolivia. The COB had launched the protest movement in early May, opposing Paz's economic policies, which are reportedly backed by the United States.

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After exhausting all avenues of dialogue, reaching agreements with those whose demands were legitimate, and identifying those who used violence in an attempt to destabilise Bolivia, we made the decision to declare a state of emergency across the entire national territory.