
El expresidente boliviano Evo Morales (2006-2019) elevó este domingo la presión sobre el Gobierno de Rodrigo Paz al exigir la convocatoria de elecciones generales en un plazo de 90 días para que no haya muertos, para que no haya heridos, en una nueva escalada del pulso político que mantiene paralizadas a las ciudades de La Paz y El Alto desde hace tres semanas. El líder cocalero, prófugo de la justicia boliviana por un caso de presunta trata agravada de menores, advirtió que cualquier decisión del Ejecutivo de militarizar el país para desbloquear las rutas constituiría una alternativa suicida.

The political and social crisis that has been shaking Bolivia for 15 days escalated on Wednesday into a regional diplomatic confrontation, with the government of Rodrigo Paz expelling the Colombian ambassador to La Paz, Elizabeth García, denouncing before the Organization of American States an attempt at institutional destabilization, and receiving public backing from the United States and from several governments in the region. The decision was taken after Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the protests as a popular insurrection and said that in Bolivia there is a people in the streets being killed, statements considered interfering by La Paz.

The center of La Paz turned on Monday into the stage of a more than three-hour pitched battle in which thousands of salaried miners and peasants clashed with police forces trying to prevent their entry to Plaza Murillo, the seat of Bolivia's executive and legislative branches. The protesters threw dynamite charges at the police, who responded with tear gas. The cordons were not overrun, and the Army, deployed around the square as the last line of defense, did not intervene directly. The mobilization is the largest challenge President Rodrigo Paz has faced since taking office six months ago.

The Bolivian government on Monday denounced the presence of “armed groups” in the march of peasant farmers and supporters of former president Evo Morales that descended on the city of La Paz, the seat of the executive and legislative branches, after a six-day walk from the highlands, demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz. Deputy Interior Minister Hernán Paredes estimated at “somewhat more than ten thousand people” the column of protesters that entered the capital from the neighboring city of El Alto, in what authorities described as an attempt by the former leader to destabilize the executive six months into his term.

Bolivia's Public Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday confirmed it will maintain its request for a 20-year prison sentence against former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) for aggravated human trafficking, in proceedings that are moving forward despite the former leader's absence and a fresh arrest warrant issued against him after his failure to appear at Monday's hearing. Prosecutors argue that Morales had a relationship during his second term with a 15-year-old girl, with whom he allegedly fathered a daughter, and that the minor's parents are said to have consented to the relationship in exchange for political favors and economic improvements.

The First Criminal Sentencing Court of Tarija, in southern Bolivia, on Monday declared former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) in contempt and ratified the arrest and travel-ban orders against him after he failed to attend the opening of his oral trial for alleged aggravated human trafficking. The same measure was applied to Idelsa Pozo Saavedra, mother of the alleged victim. Judge Carlos Oblitas suspended the proceedings without a new date, pending the arrest or voluntary appearance of the defendants.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira has announced a drastic economic overhaul, declaring a state of economic, financial, energetic, and social emergency, which includes ending fuel subsidies that have been in place for over 20 years and implementing a significant increase in the minimum wage to offset the resulting inflation.

Bolivia's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rejected on Tuesday all requests from supporters of former President Evo Morales, confirming that he will not be a candidate in the upcoming August 17 presidential elections.

Followers of former Bolivian President Evo Morales are split between those who will endorse the candidacy of his former proegé Andrónico Rodríguez and those who find the latter a traitor and would rather cast a null vote in next month's elections if Morales himself is not allowed to run, which he should not after srving more than the constitutional limit on mandates.

César Siles resigned as Bolivian Justice Minister effective June 17, citing unfounded rumors and accusations against him. In a letter to President Luis Arce Catacora, the departing official expressed his intent to step down to defend his reputation and avoid destabilizing the government amid Bolivia's economic crisis and political tensions.