“coup d’état”, General Zuniga arrested… what we know about the situation

INTERNATIONAL – ” Rebellion “ aborted. Chaos took place for a few hours in Bolivia this Wednesday, June 26, when an army general tried to take power by attacking the presidential palace in La Paz with an armored vehicle. He was finally arrested. Update on the situation below.

• The army in position

By midday, images on social media taken by residents showed army units advancing through the streets in close ranks, and armoured vehicles and a tank parked in Murillo Square. According to AFP journalists on the scene, an armoured vehicle tried to break down a metal door of the Palacio Quemado, the seat of the presidency.

Bolivian television adds that General Zuniga briefly entered the presidential palace. A few hours later, the soldiers left the place.

• General Zuniga in action

The situation was allegedly triggered by rumors circulating since Tuesday that General Zuniga, in office since November 2022, could be removed from office. He allegedly exceeded his function by making statements against Evo Morales, once Arce’s ally and today his biggest political opponent ahead of the 2025 presidential elections.

In an interview granted Monday to a television channel, the head of the army indeed affirmed that he would arrest Evo Morales if he pursued his plan to represent himself, while he can no longer be a candidate according to a decision of justice. Evo Morales is seeking the nomination on behalf of the MAS (Movement towards Socialism), while Luis Arce has not yet made an official candidacy.

“Legally, he is disqualified, he can no longer be president of this country”, declared General Zuniga. The armed forces are the armed arm of the country and we will defend the Constitution at all costs”he added.

This Wednesday after the deployment of the army, he explained that “the armed forces are trying to restructure democracy, to make it a real democracy. Not that of a few, not that of a few masters who have ruled the country for 30 or 40 years”.

• A “coup d’état” according to the presidency

“We denounce the irregular movements of certain units of the Bolivian army. Democracy must be respected”wrote the president on the social network X. He called on the population to mobilize “ in favor of democracy » and against “ the Coup d’Etat “.

According to ex-president Evo Morales (2006-2019) on X, “ a coup d’état is being prepared ». “Soldiers and tanks are deployed in Murillo Square”he wrote, calling “ to a national mobilization to defend democracy”. Evo Morales was president of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, having been re-elected in 2009 and again in 2014. In 2019, he resigned from the presidency amid social unrest and accusations of electoral fraud.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro, for his part, 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.

• General Zuniga dismissed and arrested

Finally in the middle of the afternoon, General Juan José Zuniga accused of the “coup d’état” was dismissed from office by President Luis Arce and was arrested by the police, according to images broadcast by public television.

He was apprehended and forced into a police vehicle while speaking to the press outside a military barracks. “ You are under arrest, general! »Interior Minister Johnny Aguilera told him.

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