On June 26th, around 2:00 p.m., the Army, led by commander general Juan Jose Zuniga, broke into the Murillo Square of La Paz, where the headquarters of the Executive and Legislative Powers are located. Zuniga stated that he sought to “change the government cabinet,” “restore” democracy, and release “political prisoners.” However, his actions were met with resistance from President Arce, who ordered him to retreat and later swore in a new military leadership.
Zuniga was caught and sentenced to six months of preventive detention. Despite Zuniga’s claims that the action was orchestrated by President Arce to boost his popularity, Arce denied any involvement. The incident sparked political tensions within Bolivia and intensified the political dispute between Evo Morales and Arce. Morales accused Arce of staging a “self-coup” in order to improve his performance ahead of the 2025 elections.
The ongoing conflict between Morales and Arce has significant implications for Bolivia’s political future and upcoming elections. The potential candidacy of Morales and Arce as competing candidates within MAS raises concerns about the impact on the opposition and electoral landscape in Bolivia. Experts believe that the Armed Forces have become disillusioned with political manipulation and are unlikely to engage in another military uprising. However, speculation about a possible coup attempt fueled by Bolivia’s economic crisis has persisted due to political polarization.
As tensions continue to escalate between Morales and Arce within MAS party, experts predict significant turbulence leading up to the 2025 elections. The power struggle between these two leaders will shape Bolivia’s political landscape for years to come.
In conclusion, it is important for all parties involved in this situation to work towards resolving their differences peacefully rather than resorting to violent means such as military uprisings or self-coups which could lead to further instability in Bolivia’s already volatile political environment.
