You can see in the pictures military and tanks at Plaza Murillo in the city of La Paz in Bolivia.
“New ministers must be appointed”
The first signs came when Luis Arce signed X that there are “irregular movements” in the military and that democracy must be respected.
At the same time, the former president Evo Morales condemned the actions of the military in a post on X and quickly called it a coup.
– There will be a new cabinet consisting of new ministers. Things will change, but our country cannot continue like this, General Juan Jose Zuniga told a local television station.
Arce and Zuniga in confrontation
It is Zuniga who is behind the coup attempt, both former President Morales and current President Arce believe. According to AP, Zuniga himself will be in the square in full military clothing and backed by soldiers.
In television images, Arce is said to have been seen confronting Zuniga and saying “I am your captain and I order you to withdraw the soldiers,” according to the AP.
President Luis Arce is now calling residents to action.
– We need the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup d’état.
The general was deposed yesterday
Juan Jose Zuniga was removed from his position as military general as recently as yesterday after several threats against former President Morales, reports El País.
And in recent months, the country has had increasingly intense protests against the economic development in the country.
SVT’s Latin America correspondent Tigran Feiler believes that the situation in the country is and has been troubled for a long time:
– Bolivia has had some very turbulent years behind it. The former president Evo Morales was deposed a few years ago. Bolivia is heading for a presidential election that will be messy and now it will probably be even more dramatic, he says.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell writes on X that “all attempts to undermine the constitutional order in Bolivia” are condemned.
New military leader orders retreat
Arce quickly appointed a new military leader, who ordered the troops to leave the site.
Moments later, AP reports that troops and vehicles appeared to be moving away.
The text is updated
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Photo: Aizar Raldes