LA PAZ: Bolivia’s army chief was arrested on Wednesday after deploying troops and tanks in front of government buildings in what President Luis Arce described as an attempted coup.
Surrounded by military forces, the now-dismissed General Juan Jose Zuniga stated that the “armed forces intend to reform democracy, to make it a true democracy and not one controlled by the same controversial leaders for 30, 40 years.” Bolivian police apprehended the coup leader hours after soldiers stormed the presidential palace in La Paz. Reporters observed the withdrawal of soldiers and tanks from government buildings shortly thereafter.
General Zuniga, who led the coup, claimed his intention was to restructure the country’s democracy, but he has since been arrested.
President Arce condemned the coup attempt, urging the public to “organize and mobilize in support of democracy.” In a televised address from the presidential palace, he emphasized the need to prevent further coup attempts from endangering lives. Arce also announced the appointment of new military leadership and confirmed General Zuniga’s dismissal following his public criticism of former leader Evo Morales.
Morales condemned the coup attempt and called for criminal charges against General Zuniga and his collaborators. The public prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal investigation.
Before his arrest, General Zuniga claimed that President Arce had instructed him to stage an uprising to trigger a crackdown that would bolster the president’s sagging approval ratings. Former president Evo Morales warned on social media that “a coup d’etat is brewing” and called for a “national mobilization to protect democracy.”
Bolivia remains deeply polarized after years of political turmoil, with the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party divided by internal disputes between supporters of President Arce and his predecessor, Morales. Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president, was popular until he attempted to bypass the constitution to seek a fourth term in 2019.
Despite winning that election, Morales was forced to resign amid deadly protests over alleged election fraud and fled the country. He returned after Arce’s presidential victory in October 2020. Since then, a power struggle has ensued between the two men, with Morales frequently criticizing the government and accusing it of corruption, drug trafficking, and sidelining him politically.
Six months ago, the court disqualified Morales from the 2025 elections, but he still seeks the MAS nomination. Earlier this week, General Zuniga appeared on television, stating he would arrest Morales if he attempted to run again in 2025, declaring, “He is ineligible by law; that man cannot be president of Bolivia again.” Following Zuniga’s interview, rumors of his impending dismissal began to circulate.
The Biden administration expressed concern over the events in Bolivia, calling for calm through a National Security Council spokesperson. Leaders from across Latin America, including Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, also condemned the military’s actions and called for the respect of democracy.
Brazil’s president declared on social media, “I am a lover of democracy and I want it to prevail throughout Latin America. We reject any form of coup d’etat in Bolivia.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed these sentiments, urging “respect for democracy and the rule of law” on social media.
The Organization of American States (OAS) asserted that the international community would “not accept any form of breach of the lawful constitutional order in Bolivia.”
