Bolivia’s Paz declares state of emergency over blockade crisis

from al Arabiya

Bolivia’s crisis intensified on Saturday as President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency, enabling wider military deployment to clear blockades and restore order after protests brought the economy to a halt over the past 50 days.

The emergency declaration gives Paz broader constitutional tools to restore order, such as sending armed forces to clear blockades. While the order goes into effect immediately, the president must notify Congress of the state of emergency within 24 hours of issuing the decree, which then has up to 72 hours to approve or reject the measure. 

Protesting groups, many allied to former leftist President Evo Morales, have cut off key roads, stranding trucks and choking supplies of food, fuel and medicines to many areas, including La Paz.

The conflict initially erupted after Paz abruptly cut long-standing fuel subsidies to shrink the deficit, amid a worsening dollar crunch and talks with the International Monetary Fund. Despite later steps to stabilize fuel prices and reverse unpopular land reforms, protests intensified into broader discontent, with unions demanding wage increases, an end to fuel and dollar shortages, and Paz’s resignation...

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Growing Demonstrations in Bolivia Demand Resignation of President Paz

from Orinoco Tribune

In Bolivia, this Monday, organizations grouped within the Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB) and their supporters continued protests and blockades across various regions of Bolivia against the neoliberal measures of the Rodrigo Paz government. These measures include renewed attempts to privatize large sectors of publicly owned assets and to reduce funding for social programs.

“The package of decrees and laws promoted by the executive branch—focused on the privatization of strategic resources, economic liberalization, and the reduction of the state’s role (DS5503)—combined with inflation, government mismanagement, broken promises, the attempt at agrarian reform, and the constant underestimation of the popular bloc as a political actor, has strained institutional stability to the breaking point,” stated Bolivian political scientist and researcher Valeria Duarte Galleguillos. “The demands of social organizations no longer revolve solely around the repeal of specific laws; today, the mobilization directly demands Paz’s resignation.”

The renewed demonstrations occur after organizations unanimously rejected the government’s call for dialogue the previous day during a national expanded meeting.