In La Paz, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency after weeks of nationwide protests driven by indigenous communities, farmers and miners. The declaration gives the government the authority to clear road‑blocks that have paralyzed the supply of fuel, food and medical care across the country.
Protesters, largely belonging to Indigenous groups, have called for the re‑introduction of fuel subsidies, a rollback of austerity measures and the resignation of the president. They also criticize Paz’s land‑reform proposals, which they say would enable large landowners to buy out smallholders, threatening traditional indigenous land holdings and the stewardship of natural resources.
The emergency is set to last until Congress, which must approve or reject the measure within 72 hours, decides. Some Indigenous groups have warned they will continue their blockades, while the government claims it is attempting to restore normalcy and prevent further dependence on blockades that hinder basic public services. This move raises concerns that heightened state power could suppress indigenous voices and intensify debates over Bolivia’s economic and constitutional reforms.
