Bolivian President Declares State of Emergency

Sun Jun 21 2026 07:21:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Bolivia’s president declares emergency amid week‑long protests and blockades, citing threats to basic supplies and national security.

Bolivia’s president, Rodrigo Paz, invoked a state of emergency to dismantle roadblocks that have stalled roads and cut off essential supplies. The decree gives him powers to remove blockades set by miners, farmers and indigenous groups, while Congress must approve it within 72 hours. The move follows the president’s recent agreement with the Bolivian Workers’ Confederation, yet persistent protests continue as some groups refuse to halt. Earlier steps—cabinet reshuffle, salary cuts and a negotiation council—have failed to quell the unrest that began over land‑reform and subsidy cuts.

Bolivian President Declares State of Emergency

By Joshua Cheetham • 20 Jun 2026 15:27

President Rodrigo Paz speaking into a microphone

Bolivia’s president, Rodrigo Paz, declared a state of emergency following weeks of nationwide protests that have crippled roads and basic supplies.

The decree gives Paz authority to dismantle roadblocks set up by miners, farmers and indigenous groups, aiming to restore normalcy amid shortages caused by the blockades.

Congress must ratify the move within 72 hours while the protests continue after the president’s effort to secure a deal with the Bolivian Workers’ Confederation.

Halting blockades would relieve hardships, but some indigenous groups will stay on the streets, asserting that the disruptions have made Bolivians “hostages” of protest actions.

Officials say the unrest is an “organised attempt to destabilise the country”, a claim the ex‑leader, Evo Morales, has denied.

Other measures—cabinet reshuffles, salary cuts and a negotiation council—have not quelled the protests, which began at the end of April over land‑reform proposals and subsidy cuts.

Last month Congress passed a bill enabling the president to deploy troops for protest suppression; the emergency status may now accelerate that deployment.