Bolivia’s President Declares State of Emergency Amid Widespread Protests

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President Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia has declared a state of emergency, granting broad powers to the military to dismantle road blockades that have severely disrupted fuel and food supplies in the capital and other major cities. Protests have engulfed the country for five weeks, demanding Paz’s resignation over austerity measures, including the scrapping of fuel subsidies.

Violent confrontations between demonstrators carrying dynamite and riot police have resulted in at least 365 arrests and 37 injuries, according to official reports. The ombudsman’s office and human rights organizations report at least 17 deaths related to medical care shortages due to these blockades.

La Paz has been cut off due to barricades, leading to shortages and hampering transportation. This isolation has prevented patients from reaching hospitals, with the government stating seven deaths due to lack of medical attention. President Paz emphasized in a televised address that this emergency aims to restore freedom, not restrict lives.

Closure of businesses during protests depleted supermarket shelves and hospitals ran out of oxygen. Some societal factions called for order restoration through force. An agreement was signed with one labor union to lift blockades, but other protesters demand Paz’s resignation.

The state of emergency aims to ensure fuel supply, disrupted due to roadblocks leaving tankers stranded. The decree bars street blockades, mandates military support for police in reestablishing order, and protects citizens without curtailing constitutional rights. It is set for 90 days but may end sooner if threats subsist.

Paz assumed office in November after nearly two decades of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism party. A centrist, he promised to address fuel shortages and improve economic status, but his reforms, specifically cutting subsidies, led to inflation. His efforts to boost foreign investment and economic growth are stalled in Congress.

Protests have mainly been led by Indigenous and rural worker groups who previously supported MAS, now accusing Paz’s government of overlooking their issues. He is under pressure from the hard-right-dominant Congress and longstanding left. Former President Evo Morales, evading charges, backs protests and demands new elections.

The Trump administration supports Paz, who mended U.S. relations post-Morales’ anti-Western stance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Paz of increasing U.S. emergency assistance to alleviate blockade-induced shortages. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth condemned the protests as “attempts to overthrow the legitimate government” and warned those exploiting the situation.