Bolivia Eases Social Crisis as State of Emergency Approved

Bolivia began showing signs of returning to normalcy on Sunday, a day after President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency to resolve a 50-day social crisis that had blocked the nation’s main highways.

Early on Sunday, the Legislative Assembly overwhelmingly approved Paz’s decree, which aimed to restore transit and supply essential goods after protesting groups cut off key roads for weeks, stranding trucks and choking supplies of food, fuel and medicines to many areas.

Sunday’s vote in congress coincided with several breakthroughs. In Santa Cruz, officials and protest leaders signed an agreement to lift a critical blockade in the town of San Julian. Meanwhile, a prominent campesino federation in La Paz announced a pause in its protests, although it said the group’s demands still stood.

While police and military forces remain deployed, the national highway authority reported that there were no active blockades remaining related to protests. However, many roads require significant clean-up and repair from damage sustained during the protests.

The conflict erupted after Paz, in office since November, abruptly cut long-standing fuel subsidies to shrink the deficit amid a worsening dollar crunch and talks to the International Monetary Fund. Despite later steps to stabilise fuel prices and reverse unpopular land reforms, protests intensified, with unions demanding wage increases, an end to fuel and dollar shortages, and Paz’s resignation.

Analysts and legal experts have warned that the emergency powers could deepen unrest if they fail to address the protests’ underlying causes.

The easing of tensions on Sunday coincided with the celebration of the Andean-Amazonian New Year.