🇧🇴 Bolivia’s president faces collapse of political support as protests enter third week
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz faces a deepening crisis as widespread protests and blockades have left the capital La Paz under siege less than six months after taking office. Two weeks of road closures led by the Bolivian Workers’ Central, peasant unions, and miners have emptied markets and depleted hospital oxygen reserves, with at least three people dead after emergency vehicles were blocked from reaching medical centers, AP reported.  By May 21, four people had been reported killed and 90 arrested.
His cabinet members, deputies, and various senators have broken with him to support the protests, and Paz’s vice president has issued two statements condemning his repressive response, according to analyst and Drop Site contributor Joseph Bouchard. Right-wing opposition leader Tuto Quiroga has also withdrawn support.
Paz announced a cabinet reshuffle Wednesday in a bid to ease tensions, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced support for the Bolivian leader, describing protestors as “criminals and drug traffickers [attempting] to overthrow democratically elected leaders.”
Bolivia’s attorney general charged COB secretary-general Mario Argollo, leader of the country’s main labor federation, with terrorism and incitement to commit crimes, AFP reported. “They will not subdue us in the struggle we have undertaken,” Argollo said.
Bolivia: Paz is in big trouble. His own members of cabinet, deputies, and senators have broken with him to support the protests. His VP issued 2 statements condemning his repressive response. Now king of the right, Tuto Quiroga, is breaking with him. Is this the end of Paz?