How unrest in Bolivia fueled efforts to overthrow President Arce

The uprising appeared to be the culmination of tensions that have simmered in Bolivia for months, as protesters poured into the country's capital amid a severe economic crisis and two political leaders battled for leadership of the ruling party.

An anti-government march in La Paz, Bolivia, June 17. Photo: AP

What caused the coup?

The uprising on 26 June appeared to be led by army chief Juan José Zúñiga, who told journalists gathered in the square outside the palace: "There will definitely be a new cabinet of ministers soon; our country, our state cannot continue like this." However, he still said he recognized President Arce as the "current" commander-in-chief.

Mr Zúñiga did not explicitly say whether he was leading the uprising, but inside the palace, with explosions echoing behind him, he said the army was trying to “restore democracy and free our political prisoners”.

President Arce ordered Zúñiga to withdraw his troops, saying that non-cooperation would not be tolerated. He then formally dismissed Zúñiga.

What's behind the recent tensions?

Bolivians are increasingly suffering from slow growth, rising inflation and dollar shortages, a stark change from the past decade that was described as an "economic miracle."

Bolivia’s economy grew by more than 4% annually in the 2010s until it hit a wall during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the trouble started even earlier, in 2014, when commodity prices collapsed and the government had to dip into its currency reserves to keep spending. It then used its gold reserves and even sold local dollar bonds.

Arce served as finance minister during nearly a decade of robust growth under President Evo Morales. When he assumed office in 2020, he faced a bleak economic outlook due to the pandemic. Falling gas production put an end to Bolivia’s deficit-driven economic model.

Against a backdrop of economic desperation, President Arce and former leader Morales have engaged in a political battle that has affected the functioning of the government. For example, Mr. Morales’s allies in Congress have repeatedly blocked Mr. Arce’s efforts to take on debt to ease the pressure.

What is special about the coup?

According to statistics, Bolivia has witnessed more than 190 coups and revolutions since gaining independence in 1825.

This is not even the first coup attempt in recent years. In 2019, Mr. Morales, then Bolivia’s first indigenous president, ran for an unconstitutional third term. He won amid allegations of fraud, sparking mass protests that left 36 people dead and forcing him to resign and flee the country.

Mr Arce, Mr Morales’s handpicked successor, won the election on a pledge to restore prosperity to Bolivia, once Latin America’s main source of natural gas.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bat-on-o-bolivia-da-thuc-day-no-luc-lat-do-tong-thong-arce-nhu-the-nao-post301091.html