Navy police stand amid tear gasoline fired in entrance of the presidential palace on Plaza Murillo.
Radoslaw Czajkowski | Image Alliance | Getty Photos
Armored autos rammed into the doorways of Bolivia’s authorities palace Wednesday as President Luis Arce stated the nation confronted an tried coup, insisted he stands agency and urged individuals to mobilize.
In a video of Arce surrounded by ministers within the palace, he stated: “The nation is going through an tried coup d’état. Right here we’re, agency in Casa Grande, to confront any coup try. We want the Bolivian individuals to prepare.”
Arce confronted the overall commander of the Military — Juan José Zúñiga, who gave the impression to be main the rebel — within the palace hallway, as proven on video on Bolivian tv. “I’m your captain, and I order you to withdraw your troopers, and I can’t permit this insubordination,” Arce stated.
Navy troops fireplace tear gasoline at individuals outdoors the Quemado Palace on the Plaza Murillo in La Paz on June 26, 2024. Bolivian President Luis Arce on Wednesday denounced the unauthorized gathering of troopers and tanks outdoors authorities buildings within the capital La Paz, saying “democracy have to be revered.”
Aizar Raldes | AFP | Getty Photos
Earlier than coming into the federal government constructing, Zúñiga informed journalists within the plaza: “Certainly quickly there shall be a brand new Cupboard of ministers; our nation, our state can’t go on like this.” Zúñiga stated that “for now” he acknowledges Arce as commander in chief.
Zúñiga didn’t explicitly say he is main a coup, however within the palace, with bangs echoing behind him, he stated the military was attempting to “restore democracy and free our political prisoners.”
In a message on his X account, Arce referred to as for “democracy to be revered.” It got here as Bolivian tv confirmed two tanks and various males in navy uniform in entrance of the federal government palace.
“We can’t permit, as soon as once more, coup makes an attempt to take the lives of Bolivians,” he stated from contained in the palace, surrounded by authorities officers, in a video message despatched to information shops.
Former President Evo Morales, additionally in a message on X, denounced the motion of the navy within the Murillo sq. outdoors the palace, calling it a coup “within the making.”
Navy troops are deployed on the Plaza de Armas in La Paz on June 26, 2024. Bolivian President Luis Arce on Wednesday denounced the unauthorized gathering of troopers and tanks outdoors authorities buildings within the capital La Paz, saying “democracy have to be revered.”
Aizar Raldes | AFP | Getty Photos
María Nela Prada, minister of the presidency and a high Bolivian official, referred to as it an “tried coup d’etat.”
“The individuals are on alert to defend democracy,” she stated to native tv station Pink Uno.
The incident was met with a wave of shock by different regional leaders, together with the Group of American States; Gabriel Boric, the president of neighboring Chile; the chief of Honduras, and former Bolivian leaders.
Bolivia, a rustic of 12 million individuals, has seen intensifying protests in latest months over the economic system’s precipitous decline from one of many continent’s fastest-growing twenty years in the past to considered one of its most crisis-stricken.
The nation additionally has seen a high-profile rift on the highest ranges of the governing occasion. Arce and his one-time ally, leftist icon and former President Morales, have been battling for the way forward for Bolivia’s splintering Motion for Socialism, recognized by its Spanish acronym MAS, forward of elections in 2025.
