Bolivia's president declares state of emergency to clear protest blockades

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of exception, deploying police and military forces to dismantle roadblocks that have paralyzed the country for over six weeks. The decision aims to end widespread protests and the nation's worst economic crisis in four decades.

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attempted coup d'état

Since early May, a broad coalition of unions, indigenous groups, and coca growers, reportedly influenced by former President Evo Morales, have maintained demonstrations and road blockades. These actions have led to severe shortages of fuel, food, and medicine in major cities like La Paz and El Alto, inflicting billions of dollars in economic losses. Paz characterized the protests as an "attempted coup d'état" by "narco-terrorism."

The 90-day state of emergency restricts the right to protest and grants Paz the authority to deploy the army. Early Saturday, riot police and excavators began clearing barricades in El Alto, with some residents expressing relief and happiness at the return of free circulation and commerce. However, past attempts to clear the roads have been temporary, leaving uncertainty about the long-term effectiveness of this action.

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the full weight of the law

Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza estimates that clearing the routes will take at least two days. President Paz met with leaders of the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) union confederation in La Paz following the weeks of unrest.

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I feel a lot of happiness, a lot of happiness, a lot of peace as an alteña, because all these almost fifty days that have passed, everything has been curtailed here in El Alto, both work and free circulation.