Bolivia Faces Collapse Amid Protests Choking La Paz

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz issued a warning on Wednesday that the country is on the brink of collapse following nearly a month of protests that have led to acute shortages of food, fuel, and life-saving medicines.

Paz, who assumed office six months ago backed by right-wing centrists amid the worst economic crisis in four decades, is now facing widespread anger over his policies. The capital city, La Paz, has become the center of large gatherings of low-income workers and the indigenous majority demanding his resignation.

In a televised address to the nation, the 58-year-old president stated, "The country needs order, and it has reached an unbearable limit." Addressing the protesters, he added, "If they do not want dialogue, there is no other way," while emphasizing his preference for negotiation by saying, "We have victims because of the blockade. Someone must be held accountable."

Despite this, Paz did not rule out employing "constitutional tools" to end the blockade in La Paz, suggesting the possibility of declaring a state of emergency. He warned, "Anyone who wants to destroy the country will face this president and the full force of the constitution," affirming his support for the police and military from the people.

Calls for Paz to impose a state of emergency are increasing, a move that would place the army in charge of restoring public order for 60 days. The Congress passed a law late Tuesday lifting restrictions on the military's role in suppressing civil unrest, granting Paz constitutional authority to activate this power, which he described as a "last resort."

The president's warnings coincided with thousands of indigenous women, wearing traditional multi-layered skirts, marching through La Paz's streets on Bolivia's "Mother's Day" in solidarity with striking transport workers. Protester Marta Puma Luki told AFP, referring to Paz, "We are not afraid of death. We have already told him to pack his bags and leave."

Protests began in early May demanding wage increases to help workers cope with the severe economic crisis, stable fuel supplies, and the repeal of unpopular agrarian reforms. Despite some concessions from Paz, including on land reform, the demonstrations escalated into a widespread uprising.

Over the past two weeks, La Paz has turned into a battleground with repeated clashes between riot police and protesters. Accusations have surfaced that the government of former president Evo Morales, who is in hiding, orchestrated the unrest.

Recently, small counter-protests emerged in La Paz against the blockades that prevent essential supplies from reaching the city. Zolm Hinojosa, whose 13-year-old son suffers from asthma and heart problems, said, "Medicines have become expensive, and some are starting to run out."

At La Paz's Clínicas hospital, one of the oldest and largest in the country, doctors told AFP that their oxygen supplies would last only a few days. The protests have caused estimated losses of $600 million. Paz attempted to calm protesters by announcing he would halve his salary in solidarity with the poor, a symbolic gesture given his monthly income of about 24,000 bolivianos (around $3,500).

He also promised greater involvement of indigenous groups and labor unions in policymaking and dismissed an unpopular labor minister, but these moves failed to quell the unrest.

Less than six months ago, Paz's inauguration had signaled a new chapter for Bolivians suffering the worst economic crisis in a generation and weary of nearly two decades of near-continuous socialist rule. Long queues at gas stations disappeared after Paz, a business-sector supporter, secured fuel imports. The boliviano currency, which had been declining on the black market, strengthened, and stock markets revived due to his plan to reduce the budget deficit.

After years of diplomatic isolation, Bolivians took pride in the numerous international delegations celebrating Paz's inauguration, as he repaired strained relations with the United States and regional powers. Now, that optimism has dissipated into fear as violent protests shake the government of a U.S. ally under President Donald Trump. Protesters have besieged major cities carrying dynamite, causing severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies.

Indigenous and rural Bolivians, who had supported Paz's electoral promises to change the status quo while maintaining social welfare, are demanding his resignation. Paz has not appointed any members of Bolivia's indigenous majority to senior positions. He supported a land reform bill favoring agribusiness, which indigenous farmers viewed as a threat of eviction. He also eliminated fuel subsidies, causing prices to rise by nearly 90%. Drivers have complained about fuel contamination damaging their vehicles.

To mitigate price hikes resulting from the war on fuel, Paz provided cash assistance to the neediest families, raised the minimum wage by 20%, and repealed the controversial land law. However, he rejected demands for wage increases, provoking anger from the national labor union.

Blockade Strategy and Its Impact

Due to Bolivia's unique geography, blockades set up along the slopes leading to La Paz can completely isolate more than 1.6 million city and suburban residents, over 13% of the country's population. Indigenous movements have long employed siege tactics, which became widespread during the late 18th-century revolution against Spanish colonialism.

In 2003 and 2005, protesters who closed La Paz to oppose foreign interests in the country's natural gas reserves toppled two successive Western-aligned governments, paving the way for former president Evo Morales, founder of the "Movement Toward Socialism."

As the blockade choking La Paz enters its fourth week, thousands of trucks loaded with food and other essentials, including oxygen supplies for hospitals, remain stuck on highways. Beef, eggs, and fruits have vanished from store shelves, while subsidized chicken is being airlifted to La Paz by military planes.

The government reports at least four deaths due to lack of medical care. Hospitals continue operating but medical staff ration supplies and focus on critical cases. Shop owners and transport workers opposing the protests have increased pressure on La Paz to reopen roads at any cost, marching through the city center banging empty pots and chanting, "We want solutions. We cannot tolerate this situation anymore!"

Despite security forces using tear gas to disperse protesters and arresting over 120 people, Paz has so far resisted calls to deploy additional forces to break the blockades.

International Reactions to the Unrest

Global responses reveal political divisions. Governments allied with Trump, recently elected across Latin America from Argentina and Chile to Honduras and Costa Rica, have pledged support for La Paz, denouncing the protests as destabilizing. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, one of the few leftist leaders remaining in the region, defended the protests as a "struggle for Latin American dignity." In response, Bolivia expelled the Colombian ambassador.

The Trump administration has taken a hard stance, labeling the demonstrations an attempted coup. Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "We will not allow criminals and drug traffickers to overthrow democratically elected leaders in our hemisphere." The U.S. embassy in La Paz closed its doors on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the unrest.