Bolivia is going through a period of intense political and social turbulence. There have been three weeks of protests against Rodrigo Paz’s government, with demonstrations that intensified over the last weekend and are expected to continue in the coming days.
These include wage increases, opposition to reforms announced by the government and protests against fuel shortages and poor quality. The problem with gasoline supply, which has been ongoing since the previous government, remains unresolved.
Rodrigo Paz came to power promising to resolve the long queues at gas stations, but the situation was not resolved. Consumers question both the quality of the fuel available and the persistence of the queues, made even worse by the protests themselves, which make distribution difficult.
The announced the sending of emergency food and logistical support to Bolivia in the midst of the crisis and has been talking about an attempt to destabilize the government of Rodrigo Paz. The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that the US will not tolerate an attempt to take Paz out of the government.
It is against this scenario, of popular dissatisfaction and North American statements, that former Bolivian president Evo Morales enters the scene. For him, this “attempted meddling” would be a sign that Paz is failing.
Evo Morales stated that Rodrigo Paz faces two possible paths in the face of the crisis. According to him, one of the options would be the militarization of the streets, which he classified as a “suicidal decision”. The other would be to call elections within the next 90 days. In Morales’ assessment, the measure would be necessary to avoid conflicts with dead and injured people.
Lockdowns and shortages
Roadblocks, a method widely used by protesters in different regions of the country, have prevented the transport of food and medicine, creating shortages in several Bolivian states. In La Paz, the government had to distribute meat and chicken to the population.
The government also stated that at least three people died as a result of the difficulty in getting ambulances through the roadblocks.
Last Saturday (23), Rodrigo Paz’s government attempted to open a humanitarian corridor between La Paz and Oruro, but stated that the police and military sent to clear the road were victims of an ambush.
The episode added to a series of clashes between protesters and security forces, with the use of tear gas by police and attempts by protesters to approach the presidential palace in La Paz.
The protests bring together indigenous people, trade unionists, miners and coca producers, many of whom have been in power for just six months. The government announced a ministerial reform in response to pressure, but reaffirmed that Paz does not intend to leave the position.
Paz declared his willingness to dialogue, although the protesters were unreceptive to negotiation. With the support of Evo Morales, the protests remain organized and the pressure on the streets is expected to continue in the coming days.
Evo Morales was president of Bolivia for three consecutive terms, between 2006 and 2019. He resigned from office following allegations of electoral fraud in his second re-election. Rodrigo Paz was elected in October 2025, after beating Jorge Tuto Quiroga. His victory ended almost 20 years of left-wing governments in the country.
