Bolivians in shock after top general’s coup attempt

Bolivia’s capital La Paz is reeling from an attempted coup as troops led by a top general broke down the government palace gates in tumultuous scenes that threatened to drag down southern democracy -American in chaos.

Military forces led by army chief Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga appeared to seize control of President Luis Arce’s government by taking control of the city’s central square and firing tear gas at protesters who took to the streets.

General Zuniga pledged to “restore democracy,” replace the government and release political prisoners, but he was condemned by opposition leaders as it became clear he had little political support.

Mr. Arce refused to bow to pressure and appointed a new army commander, who immediately ordered the troops to withdraw, ending the rebellion.

The president’s supporters quickly came to his aid and rushed to the square in front of the palace, waving Bolivian flags, singing the national anthem and cheering.

Mr. Arce said: “We are here, firmly, in the presidential palace, to confront any coup attempt.”

General Zuniga and former Navy Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, an alleged co-conspirator, were arrested by authorities.

Government minister Eduardo del Castillo told reporters: “Their goal was to overthrow the democratically elected power.”

The short-lived rebellion follows months of growing tensions between Mr Arce and his former ally, left-wing former President Evo Morales.

Mr Morales, the country’s first indigenous president, was forced to resign after 14 years in power in 2019 following mass protests against him.

He has since returned from political exile and is threatening to challenge Mr Arce in the 2025 primaries, which has caused a growing division within the ruling Socialist Party.

The economic crisis is further fueling tensions, with the country’s foreign exchange reserves dwindling, its natural gas exports falling and its currency peg collapsing.

As police in riot gear set up outside the presidential palace, Bolivians lined up at vending machines, formed long lines outside gas stations and emptied grocery store shelves.

Surrounded by the new military chiefs appointed Wednesday evening, Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo sought to reassure the shaken public and shed light on what had happened.

The trouble began, Mr. Novillo said, when Mr. Arce fired General Zuniga in a private meeting on Tuesday over the army chief’s threats to arrest Mr. Morales if he continued his presidential bid in 2025.

During their meeting, Mr. Novillo said that General Zuniga had given no indication to authorities that he was preparing to take power.

Hours later, followed by armored vehicles and supporters, General Zuniga stormed into the government headquarters and declared that he was tired of internal political fighting. “The armed forces intend to restore democracy,” he said.

Members of the country’s fragmented opposition, which General Zuniga claimed to support, rejected the coup before it was clear it had failed.

Prosecutors will seek the maximum sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison for Gen. Zuniga, accused of “attacking the constitution,” he said.

“This gives control to the military and erodes democracy and is an important sign that the problems of the 2019 coup have not been resolved,” said Kathryn Ledebur, director of the Andean Information Network, a research group based in Bolivia. “Bolivia’s democracy remains very fragile, and certainly much more fragile today than it was yesterday. »

Additional agency reports