Published on 6/21/2026
Bolivia entered a new phase of political and security tension after President Rodrigo Paz declared on Saturday evening a state of emergency throughout the country for a period of 90 days, justifying this by ending “economic paralysis,” after weeks of protests and blocking roads. The police began removing obstacles using public works vehicles.
More than 6 weeks ago (about 50 days), leftist groups, many of which are allies of former leftist President Evo Morales, closed major roads, stranding trucks and disrupting the supply of food, fuel, and medicine to many areas, including the city of La Paz, the administrative capital of the country.
“After exhausting all means of dialogue, reaching agreements with those whose demands were legitimate, and identifying those who used violence in an attempt to destabilize Bolivia, we decided to declare a state of emergency throughout the country,” Paz said.
On Friday evening, the government signed an agreement with the main labor union in the country, which announced the cessation of escalation measures and the lifting of pressure measures, but some sectors participating in the movement did not agree to the agreement, as groups of farmers, along with coca farmers in the Chapare region, the stronghold of former President Evo Morales (2006-2019) in the center of the country, continued their protest movement. So what do we know about the political crisis in Bolivia?
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What sparked the anger and protests in Bolivia?
The crisis initially erupted after Paz suddenly cut long-standing fuel subsidies aimed at reducing the deficit, amid a deepening dollar crisis and talks with the International Monetary Fund.
Farmers, factory and miner workers gradually joined the movement, rejecting the reform proposals put forward by the centre-right president, whose rise to power in November ended 20 years of socialist rule.
Despite subsequent steps to stabilize fuel prices and roll back unpopular land reforms, the protests intensified into broader discontent, with unions demanding wage increases, an end to fuel and dollar shortages, and Paz’s resignation.
The demonstrations led to violent confrontations between demonstrators armed with sticks of dynamite and riot police, resulting in the arrest of at least 365 people and the injury of 37 others, according to authorities.
Bolivia’s Office of the Ombudsman and human rights organizations reported that at least 17 people had died, and most of the deaths were linked to a lack of medical care resulting from transportation disruption.
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Who is behind the protests and what are the protesters demanding?
After the Bolivian president’s decision to stop fuel subsidies, the main labor union, in early May, launched a protest movement denouncing the government’s failure to confront the economic crisis the country is going through, knowing that it is the most severe in 40 years.
Farmers, factory and miner workers gradually joined the movement, rejecting the reform proposals put forward by the centre-right president, whose rise to power in November ended 20 years of socialist rule.
Groups of peasants, along with coca farmers in the Chapare region, the stronghold of former President Evo Morales (2006-2019) in the center of the country, continue their protest movement.
“We decided to strengthen the barriers,” Antonio Malco, leader of one of the country’s most prominent peasant unions, told Unitel TV, adding, “Our indigenous brothers felt betrayed” by the workers’ union and its president, Mario Argulo.
Despite the decrease in the number of checkpoints, which exceeded 100 at the height of the protests, about 40 checkpoints were still in place on Saturday morning, according to the authorities.
The government accuses former President Evo Morales of continuing to encourage protests and blockades. But Argulo stresses that Morales never led the movement.
On Saturday, Interior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo raised speculation that an imminent law enforcement operation could be launched targeting Morales, as he said in a statement to a Bolivian television station that the security forces “will carry out any necessary operation at the appropriate time,” and that the former president must appear before the judiciary.
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What does declaring a state of emergency mean and what is the impact of the crisis on the country?
Paz said in a speech to Bolivians that he had issued orders to the police and armed forces to “return traffic to normal, regain control of the roads, and ensure the safety of the population.” He warned that anyone who continues to block roads or resorts to violence will face “the maximum penalty stipulated by the law.”
He justified his decision to declare a state of emergency for 90 days by referring to “an attempted coup led by drug-related terrorist networks.”
Although the order goes into effect immediately, the president must notify Congress of the emergency within 24 hours of issuing the order, and Congress then has up to 72 hours to approve or reject the measure.
Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano told reporters that by Saturday afternoon, the police and armed forces had removed several roadblocks and life had begun to return to normal.
He added that the government remains open to dialogue, while defending emergency measures as necessary to restore citizens’ rights and basic supplies.
