Bolivia is spiraling into violent political crisis ahead of its August 17 election, with protests over Evo Morales’s exclusion turning deadly, paralyzing the economy, and triggering dire warnings about the country’s democratic survival.
At a Glance
- Six people dead, including four police officers; over 300 injured or detained
- Justice Minister warns armed “paramilitary groups” have joined protests
- Court upholds term limit barring Morales from seeking fourth term
- Inflation, dollar shortages, and fuel rationing deepen unrest
- President Arce accuses Morales of attempting a coup to derail elections
Bloodshed in the Streets
At least six people—including four police officers—have been killed in escalating protests linked to Morales supporters, with Bolivia’s Justice Minister César Siles declaring: “We can’t call these civilian protests any more. We are talking about paramilitary groups.” Officers were reportedly “vilely murdered by gunshots” during clashes.
Watch a report: Bolivia Police, Protesters Clash in Deadly Unrest
Military tanks have now been deployed in cities like Llallagua to restore order as protesters blockade key highways and paralyze the flow of essential goods.
Morales Barred, Tensions Erupt
Bolivia’s courts recently reaffirmed a two-term presidential limit, barring Morales from seeking a comeback. Morales’s ally Andronico Rodríguez will run instead, but Morales’s supporters began roadblocks on June 2, demanding constitutional change.
The violence has exposed deep divisions within the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party—President Arce, a former Morales ally, has withdrawn from the race and now accuses Morales of inciting unrest.
Economic Collapse Deepens Anger
Bolivians are also reeling from the worst economic crisis since 1985, with hyperinflation, fuel shortages, and a plummeting currency stoking public fury. “Nobody travels on these roads anymore, and nobody works normally. It really harms us,” said a restaurant owner in La Paz.
A Nation at Risk
President Arce warned: “Democracy in our country is at risk.” He accused Morales of plotting a coup and said slain officers “gave their lives at a time when the country is under siege.”
The United Nations is now calling for an independent probe into police killings as international concern grows.
With Bolivia’s election just weeks away, its democratic future is hanging in the balance—caught between Morales’s legacy, economic collapse, and rising political violence.
