Tension between dismissed Bolivian Armed Forces General Juan José Zúñiga and the government of President Luis Arce erupted on Wednesday, causing chaos in La Paz, Bolivia's commercial capital.
Army vehicles took up position in front of the presidency, a situation described as a "coup d'état" by President Arce. Uniformed soldiers led by Zúñiga stormed the Plaza Murilo square, where the seat of government is located, with videos showing at least two tanks and soldiers ramming the door of the government building.
In the midst of the confusion, President Luis Arce called in a televised address for public mobilisation “in favour of democracy” and against “the coup.”
This sentiment was echoed by his predecessor, former President Evo Morales (2006-2019), who claimed on X that a “coup is being prepared.”
However, the crisis later de-escalated, with a video showing Zúñiga leaving the Plaza Murillo in an armoured vehicle.
Rumours of Zúñiga’s dismissal had been circulating since Tuesday. He had been in his position since November 2022 and recently made declarations against Morales, once Arce’s ally and now his main political adversary in the upcoming 2025 presidential elections.
The army general had asserted that he would arrest Morales if he persisted in running for president, which he is prohibited by law from doing.
Morales served as Bolivia’s president from 2006 to 2019, and was re-elected in 2009 and in 2014. However, in 2019, he resigned amid social unrest and allegations of electoral fraud.
Wednesday's crisis caused concern both nationally and internationally, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calling for "respect for democracy and the rule of law."
"Spain firmly condemns the military movements in Bolivia. We send our support and solidarity to the Bolivian government and its people, and we call for democracy and the rule of law to be respected," Sánchez said on social media platform X.
