Bolivia: what we know about the attempted coup by the former head of the armed forces

The coup attempt and its aftermath almost took place live, before the eyes of the cameras. This Wednesday, the head of the armed forces of Bolivia massed men and armored vehicles in front of the presidential palace in La Paz. A few hours later, he was arrested while speaking to the press.

What happened ?

During the day on Wednesday, General Juan José Zúñiga and his men advanced in tight ranks through the streets of La Paz to Murillo Square, where the presidential headquarters are located. They positioned eight armored vehicles and fired tear gas at anyone trying to approach.

According to AFP journalists on site, an armored vehicle attempted to break down a metal door of the Palacio Quemado (the presidential palace) and the army chief managed to briefly enter the palace. He justified his action by asserting that the military intended to “restructure democracy” in Bolivia. Not the democracy “of a few, not that of a few masters who have ruled the country for 30 or 40 years”.

How did the government react?

Bolivian President Luis Acre quickly accused the rebel military of attempting a coup. On the social network X, he denounced the “irregular movements of some units of the Bolivian army,” arguing that “democracy (must) be respected.”

The president, surrounded by his ministers, also addressed Bolivian citizens in a video message inviting mobilization. “We need the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup, in favor of democracy,” he said.

During the swearing-in of the new command of the armed forces, from the presidential palace, President Acre judged that the “coup attempt” soiled “the uniform”.

What were the consequences?

General Juan José Zúñiga was removed from office by President Luis Arce. He was arrested on Wednesday evening, in front of the cameras, outside a military barracks, then taken in a police vehicle. “You are under arrest, General!” », told him the Minister of the Interior, Jhonny Aguilera, present at the time of the arrest. Juan José Zúñiga was taken to the headquarters of a special police unit to be questioned by the public prosecutor, who accused him of terrorism and armed uprising.

The soldiers withdrew from the area around the Palacio Quemado in the early evening.

Why now ?

Bolivia’s ruling party, the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), is deeply divided between current President Luis Arce and the man who led the country from 2006 to 2019, Evo Morales. Formerly allies, they are now adversaries in the 2025 presidential election.

Evo Morales is seeking the nomination on behalf of the MAS, even though the Constitution prohibits him from running again at the head of the country. “Legally, he is disqualified, he can no longer be president of this country,” General Zuñiga declared about him in an interview at the beginning of the week, assuring that he would arrest him in the event that he persisted in wanting to run. a new mandate. The military “are the armed arm of the country and we will defend the Constitution at all costs,” he added. Since then, rumors have swirled that he could be dismissed for overstepping his duties with the television interview.

What are the international reactions?

The situation in Bolivia has been denounced by the majority of South American countries. The leaders of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia called for respect for democracy and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrote on X: “I am a lover of democracy and I hope that it will prevail throughout Latin America.”

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, declared that “no form of violation of the constitutional order will be tolerated” in Bolivia, expressing his “solidarity with President Luis Arce” from Asuncion , where the general assembly of the organization is being held until Friday.

The United States said it was monitoring the situation “closely”, calling for calm, according to a White House spokesperson. In Europe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for “respect for democracy and the rule of law” in Bolivia. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned”.