Bolivia’s political and economic turmoil intensified on Saturday as President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency, authorizing an expanded military presence to dismantle road blockades that have brought the country to a near standstill for almost 50 days.
The presidential decree grants Paz enhanced constitutional authority to deploy armed forces in response to the widespread protests, which have severely disrupted the South American nation’s economy. Under Bolivian law, the state of emergency takes immediate effect, with the president required to notify Congress within 24 hours. Lawmakers then have up to 72 hours to approve or reject the measure.
The protests, primarily supported by groups allied with former leftist president Evo Morales, have cut off critical transport routes across the country. Hundreds of trucks remain stranded, while supplies of food, fuel, and essential medicines have been blocked from reaching major cities, including the administrative capital, La Paz.
The unrest originated after the Paz administration abruptly ended longstanding fuel subsidies as part of efforts to reduce the national deficit amid a severe dollar shortage and ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Although the government later stabilized fuel prices and reversed unpopular land reforms, the protests expanded to include demands for significant wage increases, resolution of fuel and dollar shortages, and calls for the president’s resignation.
In a televised address, President Paz announced the emergency declaration shortly after reaching an agreement with the Bolivian Workers’ Confederation, the country’s main trade union, on Friday. However, this deal has not halted the disruptions, as rural groups aligned with Morales, excluded from the talks, continue to control key roads, especially in the central Cochabamba region.
Defending his decision, Paz characterized the protests as a coordinated attempt to undermine democracy following weeks of violent incidents. He warned that those maintaining blockades would face legal consequences, emphasizing that the decree aims to restore normalcy and freedom to ordinary Bolivians.
“This is not a state of emergency to restrict people’s lives,” Paz stated. “It is a state of emergency to give freedom back to the people, to free Bolivia from those who use political conflict to block roads and harm the population.”
