Bolivia’s president declares state of emergency over blockade crisis
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency on Saturday after weeks of anti-government protests over rising living costs and economic pressure. growing political crisis.
The protests, backed by labor unions, farmers and supporters of former President Evo Morales, are demanding Paz’s resignation. Road closures have caused shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies in some parts of the country, causing the economy to grind to a halt over the past 50 days.
“I have arranged for the State of Emergency to be imposed to free the country’s roads,” Paz said in his address to the nation. “Bolivians cannot continue to be hostage to blockades that prevent them from working, studying, receiving medical care, meeting their own needs and providing for their homes.”
The president said this move cleared the way for the army and police to restore order.
Bolivian truck drivers block a road to protest demonstrators’ inability to work due to nationwide road closures in Cochabamba, Bolivia, June 15, 2026. – Patricia Pinto/Reuters
Paz said the state of emergency was aimed at “restoring” normalcy in Bolivia, where he said “organized groups continue to use violence to paralyze the country.”
Last month, Paz signed a law allowing military forces to intervene in civil conflicts, but has previously said declaring a state of emergency would lead to that situation. be the last option If the dialogue fails.
“After exhausting all dialogue, reaching agreement with those who have legitimate demands, and clearly identifying those who resort to violence to try to destabilize Bolivia, we decided to impose a state of emergency on all national territories,” Paz said on Saturday. he said.
People wait outside a state-owned supermarket in La Paz after chicken stocks arrived as famine and rising living costs continue to impact households in Bolivia. – Carlos Sánchez Navas/JNA Pres/Nexpher Images/Sipa USA/AP
The centrist Paz took office seven months ago and inherited the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation. helped progress the end of almost two decades of leftist rule. His election marked a historic change for the South American country, which has been governed almost continuously by Bolivia’s Movement for Socialism (MAS) since 2006.
Paz has sought to strengthen diplomatic ties with Washington that have been strained since 2009, and in September announced plans for a $1.5 billion economic cooperation agreement with US officials to secure fuel supplies.
The current unrest first erupted in May after Paz cut long-standing fuel subsidies to plug the deficit. Bolivia’s crisis-hit economy is short on foreign exchange, its once-abundant natural gas exports have plummeted, inflation is at its highest level in 40 years, and it is experiencing fuel shortages.
Unions are demanding the president’s resignation, as well as wage increases and an end to fuel and dollar shortages.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at: CNN.com
