Bolivia in Tension: Protests, Blockades, and Debates over the State of Exception
Bolivia is experiencing moments of great political and social tension due to internal conflicts. In the city of El Alto, various leaders have declared that they do not fear a possible "state of exception" and have ratified their demand for the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz. Protesters claim they will remain mobilized in the streets despite the possible intervention of the police or the military.
Given this situation, the Chamber of Deputies is scheduled to discuss the bill on states of exception today. This measure seeks legal tools to restore order in the country. However, Vice President Edmand Lara has expressed a different stance; he declared his loyalty to the people and rejected moving quickly toward a state of exception, calling it the government's last option.
Violence on the highways has generated a strong public reaction. In Cochabamba, a crowd of transporters, doctors, and neighbors marched under the slogan "Unblock now," demanding free transit to guarantee the arrival of food and fuel. This protest occurs after serious incidents, such as the stone attack on a truck on the Oruro–La Paz route, where a family was traveling with their young daughter.
For its part, the Government has decided to toughen its official stance. After successful operations to liberate communities in the southern zone of La Paz, authorities announced that they will use all available constitutional mechanisms to lift the blockades. In Santa Cruz, police officers have already arrived in the San Julián area with the goal of clearing the routes and returning vehicle traffic to normal.
In the political sphere, Deputy Lissa Claros denounced extreme threats against legislators. According to Claros, groups aligned with Evo Morales have threatened to burn the houses of those parliamentarians who vote in favor of the state of exception law. The legislator also warned about a disinformation campaign that seeks to confuse public opinion regarding the content of this law.
Finally, in the economic sector, the parallel dollar closed the day at 9.95 bolivianos, showing a slight decrease after having exceeded 10 bolivianos in the morning. Amidst these difficulties, there is positive news for trade: the arrival of the first Tampa Cargo plane in Bolivia. This new international route from Santa Cruz will improve cargo transport and connect the country with important logistics centers around the world.