Bolivia’s political landscape was rocked by a coup attempt orchestrated by General Juan José Zúñiga, which was swiftly quelled by the government of President Luis Arce. The attempted coup began with a military demonstration involving tanks at the government headquarters in La Paz, but ended with the arrest of Zúñiga and his accomplices.Zúñiga, who had been critical of both the current government and the prospective candidacy of former President Evo Morales in the 2025 elections, declared intentions to restructure democracy and accused the government of long-standing control by a few. However, President Arce condemned the coup attempt, calling it an unauthorized activation of military units, and asserted the need to respect democracy.The coup attempt included ramming a tank into the gates of the presidential palace and led to injuries among those present. President Arce’s administration responded by calling for international support and mobilizing the Bolivian people to stand against the coup. The international community, including the European Union and the United States, condemned the attempt to subvert Bolivia’s constitutional order.After a tense standoff, Zúñiga was captured and taken into custody, with the government launching a comprehensive investigation into the events. President Arce thanked the Bolivian people for their support and vowed to protect democracy and uphold the constitution. The foiled coup attempt has highlighted the deep-seated economic and political challenges facing Bolivia, including a struggle for control within the ruling party and an ongoing economic crisis.
Key points
- General Juan José Zúñiga led a failed coup attempt against the Bolivian government, aiming to restructure the country’s democracy.
- President Luis Arce condemned the coup attempt and mobilized the Bolivian people to defend democratic institutions.
- The international community has expressed support for Bolivia’s constitutional order and democracy following the coup attempt.
- Zúñiga was arrested, and a government investigation into the coup attempt is underway.
Contradictions👾Zúñiga claimed the coup was ordered by President Arce to improve his image, which was denied by the Bolivian Interior Minister.
👾There are conflicting reports about the involvement of former President Evo Morales, with some sources suggesting a power struggle within the ruling party.
