La Paz, Bolivia– An apparent failed coup attempt broke out Wednesday in Bolivia, where armored vehicles crashed into the gates of the government palace and President Luis Arce said the country stood firm against attacks on democracy.
Arce confronted the army’s commanding general, Juan José Zúñiga, who appeared to be leading the rebellion, in the palace lobby, saying: “I am your captain and I order you to withdraw your soldiers and I will not allow this insubordination. .”
Bolivian television showed two tanks and several men in military uniform outside the building, but troops and armored vehicles later began to withdraw. Arce’s supporters flooded the plaza shortly afterward, waving Bolivian flags.
Arce said that the day has been “atypical in the life of a country that wants democracy.” He denounced what he called “an attempted coup d’état by troops who are staining the uniform, who are attacking our constitution.”
Arce also replaced the heads of the armed forces and Zúñiga was subsequently arrested.
Tensions have been brewing for monthswith protesters arriving in the capital amidst a serious economic crisis as two political titans fight for control of the ruling party.
Here’s the latest:
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Bolivia’s Justice Minister has denied claims by an army general that the president asked him to storm the government palace.
Iván Lima said Juan José Zúñiga, who was arrested early Wednesday after the apparent coup attempt failed, was lying and trying to justify his own actions, so he will face justice.
Lima also said through the social platform
Shortly before being arrested, Zúñiga told reporters: “The president told me: ‘The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to increase my popularity.’”
Zúñiga said he asked President Luis Arce if he should “take out the armored vehicles.” and Arce responded: “Take them out.” ___
The army general apparently behind a failed coup attempt has claimed the president asked him to storm the government palace in a political move.
Shortly before being arrested on Wednesday, Juan José Zúñiga told reporters: “The president told me: ‘The situation is very screwed, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to increase my popularity.’”
Zúñiga said he asked President Luis Arce if he should “take out the armored vehicles.” and Arce responded: “Take them out.”
Arce has not commented on Zúñiga’s claim. The Associated Press has asked the Ministry of the Presidency, but there has been no immediate response.
Zúñiga was replaced by Arce that same day, along with other heads of the armed forces, while the rebellion was still underway. It was not immediately clear what the charges against Zúñiga were. ___
Bolivian authorities say the army general apparently behind the failed coup attempt was arrested after the attorney general opened an investigation against him.
Juan José Zúñiga was previously replaced by President Luis Arce, along with other heads of the armed forces, while the rebellion was still underway. It was not immediately clear what the charges against Zúñiga were.
Before entering the government palace early Wednesday, Zúñiga told reporters in the square: “Surely there will soon be a new Cabinet of ministers; “Our country, our state cannot continue like this.” Zúñiga said that “for now” he recognized Arce as commander in chief.
Zúñiga did not explicitly say whether he was leading a coup, but in the palace, with blows echoing behind him, he said the army was trying to “restore democracy and free our political prisoners.”
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Bolivian President Luis Arce addressed supporters who gathered in Plaza Murillo, in front of the government palace, after Wednesday’s apparent failed coup attempt.
“Many thanks to the Bolivian people. …Long live democracy,” said Arce.
Then the people began to sing the national anthem of the South American country.
Vice President David Choquehuanca told the crowd: “Never again will the Bolivian people allow coups d’état.”
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Chile is among foreign governments condemning what appeared to be a failed coup attempt in neighboring Bolivia.
President Gabriel Boric told reporters that he “immediately” contacted his Bolivian counterpart to offer his “solidarity.”
“We condemn this coup attempt. We call for the institutions to function, so that the constitution and the laws are respected,” he added. “We hope that no one is hurt and that the legitimate government of President Luis Arce is maintained and can continue with the mandate for which the Bolivian people voted.”
Boric said the matter would be raised Thursday before the Organization of American States.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed the European bloc’s strong support for the constitutional order and rule of law in Bolivia.
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Troops and armored vehicles have begun to withdraw from the Bolivian government palace.
Supporters of President Luis Arce flooded the plaza and waved Bolivian flags shortly after.
Arce said that the day has been “atypical in the life of a country that wants democracy.”
He denounced what he called “an attempted coup d’état by troops who are staining the uniform, who are attacking our constitution.”
Arce praised those troops who obey the constitution and “wear their uniform with pride.”
“We deplore the attitudes of bad troops who unfortunately repeat history by trying to carry out a coup d’état when the Bolivian people have always been democratic people,” he added.
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Bolivian President Luis Arce has announced new heads of the army, navy and air force. That includes the position of the army’s commander general, Juan José Zúñiga, who appears to be leading the rebellion.
The new head of the army, José Wilson Sánchez, orders all mobilized troops to return to their barracks. “No one wants the images we are seeing on the streets,” he said.
Arce said that those who stood up against him were “staining the uniform.” He promised that democracy would be respected.
Police in riot gear have set up fences around the government palace and the plaza outside.
Videos from the streets showed armored vehicles driving away from the palace, followed by troops and journalists.
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The leadership of Bolivia’s largest union condemned what it calls an attempted coup d’état and declared an indefinite strike of social and labor organizations in La Paz in defense of the government.
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Bolivian President Luis Arce told the army commander general, who appeared to be leading the rebellion: “I am your captain and I order you to withdraw your soldiers and I will not allow this insubordination.”
Before entering the government palace, Juan José Zúñiga told journalists in the square that “There will surely soon be a new Cabinet of ministers; “Our country, our state cannot continue like this.” Zúñiga said that “for now” he recognizes Arce as commander in chief.
Zúñiga did not explicitly say whether he was leading a coup, but in the palace, with blows echoing behind him, he said the army was trying to “restore democracy and free our political prisoners.” ___
Armored vehicles crashed into the gates of Bolivia’s government palace on Wednesday as President Luis Arce said the country was facing a coup attempt, insisted he stood firm and urged people to mobilize.
In a video of Arce surrounded by ministers in the palace, he said: “The country is facing an attempted coup d’état. Here we are, firm in Casa Grande, to confront any coup attempt. “We need the Bolivian people to organize.”
Arce confronted the General Commander of the Army, Juan José Zúñiga, in the palace hallway, according to a video from Bolivian television. “I am his captain and I order him to withdraw his soldiers and I will not allow this insubordination,” Arce said.
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