The situation is confused in La Paz where troops and army vehicles took position on Wednesday in front of the presidency, AFP noted, with Bolivian President Luis Arce calling for “democracy be respected”.
“We denounce the irregular movements of certain units of the Bolivian army. Democracy must be respected,” wrote the president on the social network X. According to ex-president Evo Morales (2006-2019) on X, “a coup d’état is being prepared“.
We call for a National Mobilization to defend Democracy against the coup d’état that is being brewed at the head of General Zuñiga.
We declare an indefinite general strike and road blockade.We will not allow the Armed Forces to violate democracy and intimidate the…
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) https://twitter.com/evoespueblo/status/1806044752329986506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Social media images taken by residents show army units advancing through the streets in close ranks, and armored vehicles and a tank parked in Murillo Square, where soldiers were seen entering the Palacio Quemado, the seat of the presidency.
\ud83d\udccc There is a police presence in Murillo Square due to the attempted coup in Bolivia.
Vanessa Centellas gives us the details of what is happening in Bolivia for #AlexEnMILLENIO. pic.twitter.com/fkFGdGMO7i
— Alejandro Dominguez (@AlexDominguezB) https://twitter.com/AlexDominguezB/status/1806181613774270523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
A few hours later, the former head of the Bolivian armed forces, General Juan José Zúñiga, dismissed from his functions by President Luis Arce who accuses him of having attempted a coup d’état, was arrested by the police , according to images broadcast by public television.
Mr. Zúñiga was apprehended and forced into a police vehicle while speaking to the press outside a military barracks. “You are under arrest, general!“, Interior Minister Jhonny Aguilera told him.
The Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, presented the now former commander of the Army, General Juan José Zúñiga together with the former commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Juan Arnez, after the attempted coup d’état in Plaza Murillo. pic.twitter.com/qPy30yQIVf
— Bolivian Ministry of Government (@MindeGobierno) https://twitter.com/MindeGobierno/status/1806183658916556860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“Defend the Constitution at all costs”
He allegedly exceeded his authority by making statements against Mr. Morales, once an ally of Arce and now his greatest political opponent in the 2025 presidential elections.
In an interview with a television channel on Monday, the army chief said he would arrest Mr. Morales if he pursued his plan to run again, even though he can no longer be a candidate according to a court ruling. .
“Legally, he is disqualified, he can no longer be President of this country”, said Mr. Zuniga. The armed forces “are the armed wing of the country and we will defend the Constitution at all costs”, he added.
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro declared that“no form of violation of constitutional order will be tolerated” in Bolivia, expressing his “solidarity with President Luis Arce” from Asunción, where the organization’s general assembly is being held until Friday.
