Bolivian President Luis Arce maintained control of the government on Wednesday after a military uprising attempt. Troops loyal to General Juan Jose Zuniga stormed the presidential palace in the afternoon, sparking fears of a coup d’état. Arce, in a televised address, condemned the incident as an “attempt to disrupt constitutional order” and urged Bolivians to remain calm.
The situation remained tense for several hours, with reports of troops surrounding the government complex. However, by late Wednesday evening, the uprising appeared to have fizzled out. General Zuniga was apprehended, and remaining troops loyal to him withdrew from the palace grounds. Bolivian officials have not yet commented on Zuniga’s motives or the number of troops involved.
In response to the coup attempt, former President Evo Morales swiftly condemned the actions of the armed forces via social media. “We will not allow the armed forces to violate democracy,” Morales stated, urging the public to initiate a general strike and take to the streets in protest. Making a new statement after the coup attempt failed, Morales suspended the call to take to the streets.
Morales, who had supported President Luis Arce in the last elections, recently accused Arce of straying from the socialist agenda. Additionally, Morales had labelled the Bolivian Plurinational Constitutional Court’s decision to reject his re-nomination for the presidency as a “judicial coup”, citing the court’s adherence to the two-term re-election limit.
The attempted uprising comes amid ongoing economic hardship in Bolivia. The nation has grappled with a deep recession for months, further strained by internal political divisions within the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) party. President Arce, who has faced criticism for his handling of the crisis, sought military support on 27 May, alleging a “soft coup” orchestrated against his government. He addressed the Colorados regiment, his guard unit, highlighting the worsening economic challenges, including rationing of dollars and fuel, which have led to roadblocks and protests by transport workers and traders. Arce’s government faces opposition from both traditional rivals and supporters of former President Morales, complicating efforts to stabilise the situation.
The international community responded swiftly to the events in Bolivia. The Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations (UN) both issued statements condemning any attempt to undermine Bolivia’s democratic institutions and expressed their support for the democratically elected government.
President Arce, in a late-night address, vowed to investigate the events thoroughly. The coming days are likely to see heightened scrutiny of the military and efforts to address the underlying economic and political tensions that appear to have fueled this latest episode.
