what we know about the attempted coup against President Luis Arce

Soldiers gathered around the presidential palace for several hours on Wednesday before withdrawing. General Zuñiga, who led the operation, was arrested and dismissed from his duties.

Bolivia experienced several hours of uncertainty on Wednesday June 26, as soldiers massed in front of the presidential palace in La Paz, on the orders of the general Juan José Zuñiga. An operation denounced as a coup attempt by left-wing president Luis Arce, elected in 2020. Franceinfo takes stock of what we know about this aborted putsch.

Soldiers gathered in front of the presidential palace

In the early afternoon, army units advanced through the streets of La Paz in tight ranks to Murillo Square, where the presidential headquarters is located. Men and eight armored vehicles held this position for several hours, firing tear gas at anyone who tried to approach. “We denounce the irregular movements of some units of the Bolivian army. Democracy must be respected”Bolivian President Luis Arce said on the social network X.

Surrounded by soldiers, the head of the army, General Juan José Zuñiga, affirmed that the troops were 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 thirty or forty years”. According to AFP journalists at the scene, an armoured vehicle tried to break down a metal door of the Palacio Quemado, the seat of the presidency. General Zuñiga briefly entered the palace before leaving again and the soldiers finally withdrew early Wednesday evening.

Once the soldiers left, Luis Arce went out to the balcony of his palace to wave the Bolivian flag and greet his supporters who had gathered by the hundreds in Murillo Square to give him their support. “No one can take away the democracy we have won”he said.

An unlimited general strike

“Today we need the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup and in favor of democracy”said the president Luis Arce in a video message to the nation from the presidential palace, alongside government ministers.

A call heard by the Bolivian Workers’ Central. During a press conference, the union described the military’s action as “ofterrorist and seditious act against national democracy” and decreed “an unlimited general strike” immediate, calling on workers to go to La Paz, to defend and demand the restoration of constitutional order.

General Zuñiga arrested and dismissed

In the evening, General Juan José Zuñiga was arrested while speaking to the press, after withdrawing with his troops from Murillo Square. “You are under arrest, General!”, said the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Jhonny Aguilera, who accompanied the police, according to images broadcast by public television. The senior officer was taken to the headquarters of a special police unit to be questioned by the prosecution, which accuses him of terrorism and armed uprising.

At the same time, President Luis Arce dismissed the rebel general and swore in a new command of the armed forces. A ceremony broadcast live on national television. “We are facing a coup attempt by soldiers who soil their uniforms”denounced the president during this ceremony.

Juan Arnez Salvador, head of the Navy, was also arrested during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. The Minister of Government (the equivalent of the Minister of the Interior), Eduardo Del Castillo, castigated, during a press conference, “two military putschists who wanted to destroy democracy”.

The 2025 presidential election at stake

In an interview given on Monday to a Bolivian television channel, General Zuñiga had affirmed that he would arrest Evo Morales, president of Bolivia between 2006 and 2019, if he persisted in wanting to run for president in 2025, while the Constitutional Court prohibited him from doing so in December 2023. “Legally he is disqualified, he can no longer be president of this country”declared the general, adding that the military “are the armed wing of the country” And that they were going “defend the Constitution at all costs”.

Currently, the ruling party in Bolivia is the Movement towards Socialism (MAS), but it is deeply divided between Luis Arce and Evo Morales. Formerly allies, they are now adversaries with a view to the 2025 presidential election. Evo Morales is seeking, despite the decision of the Constitutional Court, the nomination in the name of the MAS and accuses Luis Arce, who has not yet officially taken note of candidacy, corruption and tolerance towards drug trafficking.

Numerous international condemnations

The leaders of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and Colombia quickly called for respect for democracy. On Twitter, Brazilian President Lula supported Bolivian democracy: “I am a lover of democracy and I want it to prevail throughout Latin America.” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced an attempted coup orchestrated by “the extreme right with a military traitor”.

For her part, Honduran President Xiomara Castro, current president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), called on the group’s member countries to “to condemn the fascism that today attacks democracy in Bolivia and to demand full respect for civil power and the Constitution”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”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “deeply concerned”and the United States said it was following “from close” the situation, calling for calm, according to a White House spokeswoman. In Europe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for “respect democracy and the rule of law” in Bolivia. Another reaction, that of Russia, which said “strongly condemn” the coup attempt, expressing its “total and unwavering support” to President Luis Arce.