Bolivia faces a serious economic and social crisis due to road blockades
Bolivia is going through a critical situation due to road blockades that have already caused economic losses of more than 2 billion dollars. According to the National Chamber of Industries, the industrial sector has lost about 408 million dollars, putting thousands of jobs and the stability of many companies in the country at risk.
The Bolivian Highway Administration (ABC) reported that there are more than 70 active blockade points this Thursday. The most affected regions continue to be Cochabamba and La Paz. Given this situation, the national government insists on seeking dialogue with the mobilized sectors, although it also maintains the "state of exception" as a legal alternative to restore order.
In the legislative sphere, Senator Rodrigo Paz has presented a bill to the Plurinational Legislative Assembly to regulate these states of exception. Meanwhile, political tension is rising, as sectors known as "evistas" have called for a massive town hall meeting in Caracollo for this Friday, coinciding with the debate on these new regulations in the Senate.
However, not all citizens support the pressure measures. In Llallagua, Potosí, a group of neighbors marched through the streets to demand the lifting of the blockades, denouncing the serious harm they suffer every day. Unfortunately, violence has also been present; on the Oruro-La Paz route, a group of people attacked a truck carrying a family with stones, destroying the windshield and endangering the driver, his wife, and his daughter.
The daily economy is also suffering the consequences of the instability. The dollar in the parallel market reached 10 bolivianos in the morning, although it closed the day at 9.95 bolivianos for purchase. This fluctuation worries merchants and the general population, who see how access to foreign currency becomes more difficult during holidays and conflict days.
To help families in La Paz, the Mayor's Office of La Paz announced that it will continue selling chicken meat at a price of 28 bolivianos per kilo for the duration of the conflict, eliminating intermediaries to reduce costs. On the other hand, the situation is desperate in Apolo, where transporters announced a hunger strike due to the total lack of fuel and food, which keeps this region practically isolated from the rest of the country.