Tanks surround Bolivian government building as president calls for democracy

LA PAZ: Bolivian armed forces seized control of the central square of La Paz on Wednesday and an armored vehicle stormed the entrance to the presidential palace. President Luis Arce condemned the actions as a “coup” and called for international support to defend democracy.

Arce criticized the mobilization of the army led by General Juan José Zuniga, who was recently relieved of his military command. In the presidential palace, surrounded by heavily armed soldiers, he declared: “Today, the country is facing an attempted coup. Today, the country is once again facing a conflict of interests that will kill democracy in Bolivia.” He urged the Bolivian people to “organize, mobilize against the coup and for democracy.”

The United States said it is closely monitoring the situation and called on all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint.

Tensions are rising in Bolivia ahead of elections in 2025. Former President Evo Morales plans to run against Arce, which has led to deep divisions within the ruling Socialist Party and increased political uncertainty. Morales, who ruled from 2006 to 2019, was ousted amid widespread protests and replaced by an interim conservative government before Arce’s election in 2020.

Recently, Zuniga publicly opposed Morales’ return to the presidency and threatened to block him if he tried to run, leading to Zuniga’s removal from office. On Wednesday, heavily armed soldiers and armored vehicles gathered at the Plaza Murillo, where the presidential palace and congress are located. Witnesses said they saw an armored vehicle ram the gates of the presidential palace and soldiers rushing in.

In a statement to reporters, Zuniga said he was disappointed with the current state of the country, citing economic difficulties and popular discontent. “The three armed forces chiefs came to express our disappointment. There will be a new cabinet of ministers and things will definitely change, but our country cannot continue like this,” he said.

Evo Morales, head of the ruling Movement for Socialism party, accused Zuniga of staging a coup and declared a total shutdown, including road blockades. “We will not allow the armed forces to undermine democracy and intimidate the people,” Morales insisted.

Support for Arce and Bolivia’s democracy has surged among regional leaders, and even the conservative political opposition has condemned the military’s actions. “We condemn the coup attempt in Bolivia in the strongest possible terms,” ​​Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on the 10th. “We fully support President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora.”