Bolivia's President Declares State of Emergency Over Blockades
The 90-day measure lets the military help clear roads as protests have caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine, officials said.
- On Saturday, June 20, 2026, President Rodrigo Paz declared a nationwide state of emergency, authorizing military and police deployment to clear road blockades after 50 days of protests paralyzed Bolivia's economy.
- Protests erupted in May after Paz cut fuel subsidies to shrink the fiscal deficit, escalating into highway blockades that isolated La Paz and El Alto, affecting nearly 2 million residents.
- Violent clashes between riot police and dynamite-wielding demonstrators resulted in at least 365 arrests and 37 injuries, while the Bolivian Ombudsman's Office attributes at least 17 deaths to disrupted medical access.
- While the Bolivian Workers' Confederation agreed Friday to end pressure measures, rural groups like Tupac Katari vowed to continue blockades, and Congress must approve the emergency decree within 72 hours.
- President Paz characterizes the movement as an organized attempt to destabilize democracy, while allies of former President Evo Morales describe it as an indigenous rebellion driven by economic hardship.
205 Articles
205 Articles
Unrest has spread throughout Bolivia, with protesters demanding the president's resignation.
The president of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, declared a state of emergency throughout the country during the early hours of Saturday in order to free the blocked roads after exceeding the threshold of the 50 days of protests against them. “This is not a state of emergency to restrict the lives of the people. It is a state of emergency to restore freedom to the people,” the president said in a message to the nation.Despite the exhortation of multiple s…
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency after weeks of mass protests that have paralyzed much of the country and caused shortages of fuel, food and other basic goods. The decision gives the president broader powers to remove roadblocks set up by protesters across the country.
El Mundo
INTELLINEWSThe declaration of the state of emergency throughout the country and the agreements between the government and the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) have slowly begun to unlock a crisis that...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
