Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency on Saturday after weeks of anti-government protests over rising living costs and economic hardship escalated into a wider political crisis.The move comes after nearly 50 days of demonstrations, road blockades and supply disruptions led to shortages of food, fuel and medicine in parts of the country. Protesters, backed by trade unions and farmer groups, have been demanding Pas’s resignation.In a televised address to the nation, Paz said the emergency measures were necessary to return to normalcy and reopen major transport routes.“I have arranged for the state of exception to be implemented to free up the country’s roads,” Pas said.“Bolivians cannot continue to be held hostage by blockades that prevent them from working, studying, receiving health care, being self-sufficient and providing livelihoods for their homes,” he added.The declaration allows the government to deploy military forces more broadly to clear blockades and restore order across the country, Reuters reported. Paz said the state of emergency was intended to help the country return to normal operations.The crisis is worsening despite the government reaching a deal on Friday with the country’s main union, the Confederation of Bolivian Workers (COB), to ease tensions.The unrest started after the Pass government cut long-standing fuel subsidies as part of efforts to reduce the fiscal deficit amid growing dollar shortages and ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Although the government later took steps to stabilize fuel prices and reversed some unpopular land reforms, the protests continued and expanded into broader demands, including wage increases, an end to fuel and dollar shortages, and Pas’s resignation.Multiple protest groups, many aligned with former President Evo Morales, have blocked major highways and transport routes, disrupting the flow of goods and affecting supplies in several areas, including the capital La Paz.Officials said the emergency declaration gave the government broader constitutional powers to restore public order, including deploying armed forces to clear blockades and reopen roads.
What triggered the crisis in Bolivia?
The protests began in early May after President Rodrigo Paz’s government introduced austerity measures, including cutting long-standing fuel subsidies, in a bid to reduce the fiscal deficit amid growing dollar shortages and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. What started as a strike grew into a nationwide anti-government movement involving unions, miners, transport workers, teachers, indigenous groups and rural communities.Protesters accuse the government of failing to address rising costs of living, fuel shortages, inflation and economic hardship. Teachers are demanding higher wages and more funding, transport unions have launched strikes over fuel shortages and supply issues, and indigenous and rural groups have opposed land reforms they say benefit large landowners. Although the government later repealed the controversial land law and took steps to stabilize fuel prices, demonstrations continued and expanded to calls for Pas to resign.The crisis has been exacerbated by supporters of former president Evo Morales, who have backed protests and organized road blockades on major transport routes. Morales described the demonstrations as a response to economic hardship and political persecution. The blockade has stranded trucks, disrupted supplies of food, fuel and medicine, and prevented some patients from reaching hospitals. Authorities blame opposition groups and Morales’ allies for fueling the unrest, which they say has left at least three people dead.
