Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency to empower the military in removing road blockades affecting fuel and food supplies in major cities, including La Paz. These blockades have caused significant disruptions, leading to shortages and transportation paralysis.
Recent protests demand Paz’s resignation over austerity measures, notably the elimination of fuel subsidies. Confrontations between demonstrators and police have resulted in 365 arrests, 37 injuries, and at least 17 deaths, primarily due to inadequate medical care. Barricades have isolated La Paz, preventing hospital access, with seven reported deaths from medical neglect.
Paz emphasized that the emergency aims to regain public freedom, not restrict it. Businesses shuttered, and resources depleted as protests continued, with some societal groups urging decisive action. A labor union agreed to lift blockades, but disagreements persist among protesters.
The emergency decree prohibits obstruction of transport routes to ensure fuel availability. Armed forces are mandated to assist police in restoring order. Constitutional rights remain intact, allowing daily activities to continue. The decree spans 90 days, subject to earlier termination if violence subsides.
Paz assumed office in November, succeeding 20 years of governance by the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. His administration confronted economic challenges left by MAS, despite efforts to fix fuel shortages with substandard gasoline. Legislative efforts to boost foreign investment have stalled.
Protests spearheaded by highland Indigenous and rural workers, former MAS supporters, accuse Paz’s government of neglect since his election. He faces pressure from Congress’s hard-right faction and longstanding leftist opposition.
Ex-President Evo Morales backs the protests, demanding elections from his refuge within the coca-growing region, evading arrest on separate charges. The U.S. administration supports Paz, mending bilateral ties strained under Morales.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Paz of emergency assistance and logistical aid. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth condemned the protests as efforts to destabilize Bolivia and issued a dire warning to those benefiting from the turmoil. “The United States is watching,” he stated in a message.