After a tumultuous Wednesday marked by dramatic military maneuvers and civic unrest, calm returned to Bolivia’s capital on Thursday following a failed coup attempt that briefly threatened to destabilize the nation.
The chaotic scenes unfolded as Bolivian military forces, led by General Juan José Zúñiga, seized control of La Paz’s main square and stormed the presidential palace, triggering widespread shock and uncertainty among the populace. Armored personnel carriers rolled through the streets, a tank crashed into the palace gates, and tear gas dispersed protesters who had flooded the city center.
General Zúñiga, in a bold move, addressed the media from the palace, declaring intentions to “restore democracy” by replacing the cabinet and freeing political prisoners. However, the swift and firm response from President Luis Arce and his administration soon quelled the uprising. President Arce, defiant in the face of the military’s actions, appointed a new army commander who ordered troops to stand down, effectively ending the crisis within hours.
Hundreds of Arce’s supporters swiftly gathered in the square outside the palace, waving flags, singing the national anthem, and celebrating the restoration of order. President Arce himself addressed the nation, urging Bolivians to defend democracy against any further attempts at subversion.
Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo condemned the coup attempt, emphasizing that it lacked meaningful political support and aimed to overturn the democratically elected government. General Zúñiga and a co-conspirator, former navy Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, were promptly arrested as the situation de-escalated.
The turmoil comes amidst heightened political tensions exacerbated by a bitter rift between President Arce and former President Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous leader. Morales, still influential despite resigning and fleeing in 2019, has recently challenged Arce’s leadership, further fracturing the ruling socialist party and paralyzing efforts to address the country’s economic woes.
The swift resolution of the coup attempt has provided a temporary respite, but analysts warn of deeper democratic fragility in Bolivia. Kathryn Ledebur of the Andean Information Network highlighted ongoing concerns, noting that the incident underscores unresolved issues from Bolivia’s 2019 political crisis and reveals vulnerabilities within the country’s democratic institutions.
As Bolivia cautiously returns to normalcy, the aftermath of Wednesday’s events serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the nation as it navigates political turbulence and strives to uphold democratic principles.
AP
