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Bolovian president declares state of emergency
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Bolivian President Paz declared a state of emergency to grant broader powers to clear roadblocks by demonstrators, aiming to alleviate severe shortages and restore normalcy across the nation.
- The protests, led by miners, farmers, and indigenous groups since late April, oppose fuel subsidy cuts, austerity measures, and proposed constitutional changes, with some groups demanding Paz's resignation.
- Despite a deal reached with the Bolivian Workers' Confederation, some indigenous groups have vowed to continue protests and maintain roadblocks, prolonging the unrest.
- Paz attributes the crisis to an organized attempt to destabilize the country, accusing former president Evo Morales of orchestrating the protests, a claim Morales denies.
- In response to the unrest, Paz has scrapped the controversial land reform, reshuffled his cabinet, cut ministerial salaries in half, and proposed a council to engage with marginalized societal sectors.
