President of Bolivia seeks to enable military to lift road blockades

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced a proposed law to "strengthen" the military's role in potential states of exception aimed at clearing road blockades and protests demanding his resignation. This initiative follows the resignation of the Defense Minister and comes after more than a month of continuous demonstrations by various sectors, including farmers, workers, miners, transporters, and teachers.

Paz stated that he has sent a bill to Congress to regulate states of exception, which he does not rule out declaring soon due to the deepening crisis. The proposed law seeks to enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces in specific actions. The president did not provide reasons for Mauricio Salinas's resignation as Defense Minister, confirmed by an anonymous government source.

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The project of law will seek to "strengthen in this specific case our Armed Forces in their actions."

While reiterating calls for dialogue, Paz also aims to facilitate military intervention in lifting blockades, framing it as a "humanitarian" action. Congress recently annulled a law requiring presidential approval to declare a state of exception, which also allows for restricting freedoms of assembly and movement. The new Defense Minister, Ernesto Justiniano, emphasized the immediate task of restoring normality, stating, "Dialogue is always open, but those who refuse to dialogue cannot paralyze the country."

The ongoing blockades have led to acute shortages of food, medicines, and fuel, particularly in La Paz and El Alto. The government reports seven deaths due to delayed medical attention. The Paz administration accuses sectors of the protesters of seeking to "alter the democratic order" and alleges that former President Evo Morales is directing them.

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The immediate task is to recover normality (...). Dialogue is always open, but those who refuse to dialogue cannot paralyze the country.