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La Paz, Bolivia – Bolivian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to authorize President Luis Arce to deploy troops and decree a state of emergency amid large-scale street protests demanding his resignation over the nation’s economic woes.
In a vote held at the Plurinational Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 87 out of 130 lawmakers supported the measure, while 35 abstained and 8 were absent. The decision granted President Arce the authority to invoke a state of emergency, potentially allowing him to take sweeping measures to quell unrest and restore order in the crisis-hit country.
Tensions in Bolivia have been escalating following months of economic hardship, triggered by a devastating drought and plummeting international prices for the country’s main export, soybeans. The situation has worsened in recent days with protests taking place in several major cities, including La Paz, the capital.
Opposition leaders have called on President Arce to step down, citing his government’s policies as a major contributor to Bolivia’s economic downturn. However, Arce has refused to budge, instead pushing forward with what he describes as necessary austerity measures to stabilize the national finances.
Government officials say the state of emergency and deployment of soldiers are intended to ensure public safety and prevent further property damage. However, critics have expressed concerns over the potential for human rights abuses and suppression of dissent.
Protesters have accused the administration of failing to address the root issues driving their economic struggles. They have also highlighted alleged government cronyism and the concentration of power under President Arce’s control.
Wednesday’s vote was largely along party lines, with the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) party dominating the assembly and backing Arce’s measures. However, a small faction of lawmakers from the Movement for Authentic Indigenous Intellectual Revolution (MIR) and the Revolutionary Left Front (FRI) opposed the resolution.
Bolivia’s Congress has granted President Arce’s administration wide-ranging powers to tackle the nation’s economic crisis, sparking fears of further polarization in the divided country.