The president introduces the measure just hours after reaching an agreement with the Workers’ Central, in light of opposition from peasant unions
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced on Saturday the imposition of a 90-day state of emergency in the country. This extraordinary measure was adopted to ensure the population is no longer held “hostage” by the severe crisis caused by blockades and protests—which began 50 days ago and have paralyzed much of the nation’s activity.
In a televised address to the nation, Paz defended his decision as a move to restore “freedom” to the people in the face of “those who use political conflict to block roads and cause harm.” He was referring to peasant groups that distanced themselves from the agreement reached just hours earlier between the government and the Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB)—the country’s main trade union.
The measure empowers the police and the army to—in the president’s words—”carry out the necessary actions to restore the free movement of traffic, reclaim the roads, and guarantee the safety of the population.” Paz appeared alongside his cabinet, arguing that he had no other choice—after “exhausting all avenues for dialogue”—but to implement a measure strictly limited to clearing the blockades; he assured the public that their daily lives would not be disrupted.
“And to those who are still maintaining blockades, I say clearly: there is still time to desist voluntarily. If you have legitimate demands, the doors to dialogue remain open, just as they have been since day one,” the president concluded.
The announcement came hours after the executive branch reached an agreement with the COB to end the protests and pressure tactics driven by the union nationwide, thereby paving the way for the pacification of the country. Even so, and despite the fact that the ‘Cobistas’ were “lifting nationwide pressure tactics as of this moment,” this is not enough for a government that needs to reach an agreement with peasant unions—allies of former President Evo Morales—which are maintaining road blockades and insisting on the resignation of President Paz.
For instance, the Túpac Katari Departmental Federation of Peasant Workers of La Paz has rejected the agreement between the government and the Cobistas, announcing that pressure tactics will continue and could even spread to new regions of the country, according to peasant leader Vicente Salazar, as reported by Wara TV.
“The blockades will not be lifted; the provinces have been very clear, [and] they are intensifying,” Salazar stated.
Economic losses caused by the protests have already reached 2.6 billion euros—roughly the amount the government is discussing in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, according to estimates by the National Chamber of Industries.
Paz, 58, an ally of the U.S. government, came to power last year by winning over the Bolivian working class and many supporters of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), promising “capitalism for all” during his campaign.
Since his election in October—which ended two decades of socialist rule—he has cut fuel subsidies, pushed for the liberalization of the foreign exchange market, and facilitated access to global capital markets.
While bond investors welcomed his free-market policies, that relief has not materialized for many farmers, miners, and indigenous groups, especially after the war with Iran caused inflation to spike.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government is providing Bolivia with emergency food aid and logistical support to assist people facing shortages of food and medicine due to the blockades.
