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Evo Morales supporters protest fuel price hike in Bolivia

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Hundreds of coca farmers and supporters of former President Evo Morales marched in central Bolivia against a decree that doubled diesel prices for large-volume buyers.
  • The government says the increase aims to curb fuel smuggling and has offered registered small farmers limited access to the former price, but protesters want the decree scrapped.
  • Bolivia faces fuel shortages, long gas station lines and its worst economic crisis in four decades, while Morales remains a major opposition figure in street protests.

Hundreds of coca farmers and supporters of former President Evo Morales marched through central Bolivia on Friday, pulling a tractor with a rope and shouting, "No diesel, no diesel!" They carried Indigenous flags and signs demanding that President Rodrigo Paz repeal a decree that doubled the price of diesel.

No diesel, no diesel!

· ProtesterA demonstrator shouted the slogan while pulling a tractor during the march.

The measure, published in mid-August, raised the price from $0.80 to $1.50 per liter for consumers who buy large quantities, including agricultural producers and farmers. The government says the increase seeks to stop fuel smuggling to neighboring countries, which it blames for the shortages.

For farmers, the higher price is feeding a broader rise in household costs. "This greatly affects the increase in the price of the family shopping basket, everyone," farmer Elena Aine, 40, told AFP. "There is no economic, political or social stability in Bolivia," she added.

This greatly affects the increase in the price of the family shopping basket, everyone.

· Elena AineThe 40-year-old farmer described the effect of the diesel price increase on household costs.

The government said on Wednesday that small farmers who register in the state agricultural registry can buy up to 2,500 liters a month at the former price of $0.80 per liter. Farmers on strike are still demanding that the decree be eliminated. "We are against these measures. First, Bolivia's economy must be stabilized," said Frank García, a merchant who supported the march.

There is no economic, political or social stability in Bolivia.

· Elena AineAine criticized the broader situation while speaking to AFP.

Police did not confront the protesters, although a state of emergency declared by Paz remains in force after earlier demonstrations paralyzed the country between May and June. Long lines at gas stations, sometimes lasting for days, have become common. Bolivia is suffering its worst economic crisis in four decades after a lack of foreign currency depleted resources under a fuel-subsidy policy that Paz ended in December. Morales, who governed from 2006 to 2019, has no representatives in Parliament but remains the main opposition figure in the streets. "This government does not have much of a future. Rodrigo Paz has even less of a future as a politician," Morales said in an interview with Red América television.

This government does not have much of a future. Rodrigo Paz has even less of a future as a politician.

· Evo MoralesMorales criticized the government in an interview with Red América television.
About this summary

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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