Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 20
Bolivia Declares State of Emergency After 50 Days of Road Blockades
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 20

Bolivia Declares State of Emergency After 50 Days of Road Blockades

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 20

Summary

  • President Rodrigo Paz imposed a state of emergency to clear Bolivia’s roads after 50 days of blockades and unrest.
  • The move followed disruptions that Paz said had severely hit the economy and left Bolivians unable to work, study, receive medical care or obtain supplies.
  • In a post on X, Paz said the emergency was needed because citizens "cannot continue to be held hostage by roadblocks" that also hinder families from earning a living.
  • The declaration marks an escalation in the government’s response as prolonged transport disruptions widen from a public-order problem into a broader economic and social crisis.

Insights

Amid economic collapse, can Bolivia's president restore order without ceding power to protesters or the IMF?
As Bolivia descends into chaos, is a former president's 'shadow campaign' the real trigger for an impending military coup?