Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency, authorising the military to clear roadblocks that have paralysed the economy for 50 days and left at least 14 people dead.
In a televised address on Saturday, the centrist leader said the blockades were no longer a social protest but "an organised attempt to destabilise Bolivia's democracy".
"There comes a moment when failing to act ceases to be prudence and becomes irresponsibility," Paz said, promising the measure would protect citizens and ensure the flow of essential goods.
Security forces moved swiftly to clear key highways, including routes near the capital La Paz and neighbouring El Alto, where supplies of food, fuel and medicines have been choked off.
Large crowds gathered to watch as tractors and vehicles removed debris from roads that had resulted in hundreds of trucks being stranded. "We want gasoline!" chanted lorry drivers who had been sleeping in their vehicles for days.
The President's move has won rare cross-party support, with both government allies and opposition politicians backing the declaration. Congress had already cleared the path in May, by repealing legislation that previously limited the executive's use of emergency orders.
"We hope that with this, order and peace can be restored," said Lissa Claros, a lawmaker from the right-wing opposition Alianza Libre party.
However, some opposition figures have warned the measures could deepen unrest. The government insists there are no curfews, though it is considering "extraordinary measures" in sensitive areas.
The crisis erupted after Mr Paz abruptly cut longstanding fuel subsidies to shrink the deficit, amid a worsening dollar crunch and talks with the International Monetary Fund.
Protesters, many allied to former leftist President Evo Morales, have blocked major roads across the country. Morales has denied stoking the unrest, describing it instead as an "indigenous rebellion" driven by economic hardship.
Paz, who has been in power for seven months, has blamed his predecessor for the chaos.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad sayin...
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces struck two cargo vessels overnight in the Ukrainian Black Sea port o...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would “love” to see British-run Northern Ireland unify...
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, explosions were heard across parts of southern Iran according to local media reports.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia and a seaport in Dagestan in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He will meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday to discuss air defences for Ukraine over winter.
Mexico and the U.S. are racing to secure a trade deal before the U.S. midterm elections in less than eight weeks, according to six sources familiar with the talks, with failed negotiations between Washington and Canada adding urgency.
A Russian strike on a gas station in Kyiv has killed two people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a statement on Telegram. In Russia, online marketplace Ozon has suspended operations in Saratov, southwestern Russia, following a drone strike on a warehouse in the region.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces struck two cargo vessels overnight in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would “love” to see British-run Northern Ireland unify with Ireland, remarks made during a visit to Dublin that drew a sharp response from pro-British unionists in Northern Ireland.
BRICS leaders have called for maximum restraint over the war in the Middle East, warning against actions that could further worsen tensions as the United States and Iran resume strikes against each other.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment