Bolivia faced a political crisis when armored vehicles attempted to storm the government palace in an apparent coup attempt led by a top general promising to restore democracy. President Luis Arce vowed to stand firm and named a new army commander who ordered the troops to stand down. The rebellion ended after just three hours when the soldiers retreated, leading to the arrest of army chief Gen. Juan José Zúñiga and former navy Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador. The Defense Minister stated that everything was under control, calling the incident a “failed coup.”
The attempted coup came amid political tensions between Arce and former president Evo Morales over control of the ruling party, as well as a severe economic crisis in the country. Arce’s attempts to address the economic crisis were continually thwarted by Morales’ allies in Congress. The military general leading the coup attempt referenced the political infighting and economic crisis as reasons for the military’s intervention to restore democracy. The crisis began with the irregular deployment of troops, leading to warnings of an attempted coup from political figures and the closure of ranks to defend democracy.
In a shocking twist, the arrested army chief claimed that President Arce had instructed him to storm the palace to elevate his popularity, but these claims were denied by the Justice Minister. As the crisis unfolded, Arce confronted the general in the palace, ordering the soldiers to withdraw and affirming his commitment to confront any coup attempt. He announced new heads of the army, navy, and air force, calling the troops that rose against him as “staining the uniform” of the military. The incident was met with outrage from regional leaders and organizations, stressing the importance of condemning the coup attempt.
The situation in Bolivia has been further exacerbated by intensifying protests over the economy’s decline, with reports of citizens stocking up on essentials amid the uncertainty. However, the vice president assured supporters that the Bolivian people would not allow future coup attempts. The crisis has highlighted the ongoing power struggle within the ruling party and the challenges facing the country’s democracy and economy. As events continue to unfold, regional leaders and organizations continue to monitor the situation and condemn any threats to Bolivia’s constitutional order.
The swift retreat of the troops marked the end of the apparent coup attempt, with the government asserting control over the situation. While the crisis caused shock and concern among the Bolivian population, the government’s actions were met with overwhelming support from supporters outside the presidential palace. The incident served as a reminder of Bolivia’s history of political unrest and the importance of upholding democratic principles in the face of threats to stability. The country now faces the task of addressing the underlying issues that led to the attempted coup while working towards a more stable political and economic future.
