Bolivian troops withdraw from presidential palace after apparent coup attempt
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Bolivia's military has removed soldiers from the presidential palace and nearby locations after a rumored unsuccessful overthrow.
Videos posted on social media seemed to show military cars driving away from the main square in La Paz, following an incident where an armored vehicle crashed into the entrance of the presidential palace and armed soldiers entered forcefully.
When the sun set in the city, the police made sure the Plaza Murillo by the palace was safe and supporters of the government came together to show their support.
President Luis Arce, who had just spoken out against a failed military coup against his government, stood in front of the crowd on the shoulders of a stranger, raising his fists while his followers waved Bolivian flags and cheered.
Arce, who was once supported by the former leftist leader Evo Morales in Bolivia, stated on television from an undisclosed location that the country is currently experiencing a coup attempt. He emphasized the importance of the Bolivian people coming together and taking action against those trying to overthrow the government.
Politicians are saying that General Juan José Zúñiga was behind a coup. Zúñiga, wearing military clothes, spoke to a TV crew outside the palace, saying that the three heads of the armed forces are unhappy with the situation. He mentioned that there will be a new cabinet of ministers and that there will be changes, as the country cannot continue in its current state.
Zúñiga also called for the freedom of various politicians who are currently imprisoned, including two opposition figures: ex-president Jeanine Áñez - who held office in Bolivia for a short period from 2019-20 - and Luis Fernando Camacho, a former regional governor.
On Wednesday night, prosecutors announced they would launch a criminal inquiry into Zúñiga. Reports from the local media indicated that he had been taken into custody.
Zúñiga was removed from his position at the beginning of the week after stating that Morales, who originally declared himself the winner of a controversial presidential election in 2019 before resigning, should not be permitted to run for president again.
Not long after the palace was attacked, Arce appointed new military leaders, who urged the troops to cease their actions. The nation's highest court criticized the assault on democracy and reiterated its dedication to upholding the law and ensuring justice.
Conflict has been escalating in Bolivia lately, as Arce and Morales - once friends in the governing Movement Towards Socialism party - have found themselves bitterly divided.
Morales, who still holds a lot of power, urged his followers to come together to support democracy. He wrote on X, "We will not let the military disrespect democracy and scare people."
Bolivia, a country in South America with no coastline and a population of 12 million people, has faced many political overthrows since it became independent in 1825.
Morales, once a coca farmer who served as president from 2006 to 2019, has announced that he plans to compete against Arce in the upcoming presidential race. During his time in office, there was a decline in democratic practices as he focused on advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples.
At the same time, the economy has been facing challenges due to decreasing supplies of foreign currency and natural gas, which are the country's primary exports.
The actions taken by the military on Wednesday were quickly criticized by countries all around the world.
The United States was carefully watching the situation and advised people to stay calm and not be impulsive, according to a spokesperson from the White House National Security Council.
Josep Borrell, the European Union's highest-ranking diplomat, stated: "The EU strongly opposes any effort to disrupt the constitutional system in Bolivia and depose governments that have been democratically elected."
Luis Almagro, the leader of the Organization of American States, urged the military to respect the authority of the elected government in Bolivia.
Mexico's incoming president Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her full backing for Arce in a message on social media. "The rebellion of certain factions of Bolivia's military is a direct assault on democracy. We firmly denounce these actions," she stated. Brazil's former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing his desire for democracy to triumph in Latin America and noting that coups never lead to positive outcomes.
