Bolivia faces a day of high tension due to blockades and political debates
Bolivia is experiencing moments of great political and social uncertainty. The Chamber of Deputies is scheduled to discuss a bill today regarding states of exception. This measure seeks to restore order in the country, while the national government has decided to toughen its stance after successfully unblocking some routes in the southern zone of La Paz. Authorities announced they will use all necessary constitutional mechanisms to guarantee free movement and citizen security.
However, tension is growing in the streets and social sectors are divided. In the city of El Alto, neighborhood leaders stated they are not afraid of a possible state of exception nor the presence of the police or military. During a massive gathering, these sectors ratified their request for the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz. On the other hand, in Cochabamba, a multitude of transporters, doctors, and producers came out to protest under the slogan "unblock now," demanding that traffic be restored to ensure the supply of food and fuel.
The situation on the highways remains critical and, in some cases, violent. On the route between Oruro and La Paz, a group of people blocking the road attacked a truck with stones where a driver was traveling with his wife and daughter, destroying the vehicle's windshield. Meanwhile, in the department of Santa Cruz, police officers arrived in the San Julián area with the aim of clearing the routes and allowing vehicles to circulate again after several days of interruption.
Within the Government and the Legislative Assembly, there are also strong disagreements on how to handle the crisis. Vice President Edmand Lara declared his loyalty to the people and rejected moving forward with the implementation of a state of exception, calling it a last-resort measure. At the same time, Deputy Lissa Claros publicly denounced that sectors close to leader Evo Morales are threatening to burn the houses of legislators who vote in favor of approving the new law.
In the economic sphere, the foreign exchange market showed slight variations during the last day. The parallel dollar closed at 9.95 bolivianos for purchase, after having surpassed the 10 boliviano barrier early in the morning. This small decrease occurred on a day marked by the national holiday of Corpus Christi, although the volatility of the foreign currency remains a central concern for the economy of Bolivian families.
Finally, there is positive news for the country's international trade and logistics. Bolivia has inaugurated a new cargo transport route with the arrival at Santa Cruz airport of the first plane from the company Tampa Cargo. Thanks to the activation of international air freedom agreements, this new connection with important logistics centers around the world will help improve the transport of goods, offering a necessary alternative to the current problems on land routes.