Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pareira has declared a state of emergency in his country after weeks of demonstrations. This gives him more powers to maintain public order, and he can also deploy soldiers to remove roadblocks. The president announced this in a speech on Saturday an X message.
Bolivia has been gripped by a political crisis for weeks. With various protests, organized by trade unions and farmers’ organizations, among others, citizens are turning against the Paz government. The Christian Democratic party of which Paz is the leader became the largest in elections in the Latin American country last fall. This election victory brought an end to more than twenty years of socialist rule by the MAS party (Movimiente al Socialisme).
Paz promised to achieve “capitalism for all,” but protesters now feel cheated. According to the activists, many of them farmers and miners from the regions, the president is responsible for destroying social achievements. They demand his resignation.
Protesters have blocked major roads in recent weeks, resulting in no food, fuel or medicine deliveries in some places. It led to huge traffic jams at gas stations and citizens were confronted with price increases. “Bolivians can no longer be held hostage by roadblocks that prevent them from working, studying, receiving medical care, earning a living and caring for their families,” the president said on Saturday.
The blockades also caused frustration among the population. Union leaders were pelted with tomatoes earlier this month. Some citizens complained about the damage to the economy.
Allies USA
The United States said earlier this month that it was prepared to provide assistance if the protests continued. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, also promised logistical support to deliver food and medicine due to the shortages.
It is an attempt to repair the damaged relationship between the two countries. The previous MAS government was emphatically anti-American. Paz, on the other hand, spoke more mildly. That was a desirable shift for the US, as President Donald Trump is eagerly looking for allies in Latin America to combat drug trafficking, among other things.
In the coming days it will become clear how Pareira uses his extra powers. The Bolivian president says he is open to a conversation with his opponents. “But in the meantime, Bolivia must reopen the roads, guarantee supplies and return to normal.”
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