Bolivia's President Declares State of Emergency Amid Protests

Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz on Saturday declared a state of emergency after weeks of anti-government protests over rising living costs and economic hardship escalated into a wider political crisis.

The move came after nearly 50 days of demonstrations, road blockades and supply disruptions that have caused shortages of food, fuel and medicines across parts of the country.

Protesters, backed by workers' unions and farmers' groups, have been demanding Paz's resignation.

In a televised address to the nation, Paz said the emergency measures were necessary to restore normalcy and reopen key transport routes.

"I have arranged for the implementation of the State of Exception to free the country's roads," Paz said. "Bolivians cannot continue to be hostages of blockades that prevent working, studying, receiving medical attention, supplying themselves, and bringing sustenance to their homes," he added.

The declaration allows the government to deploy the military more broadly to clear blockades and restore order nationwide, Reuters reported.

Paz said the state of emergency was aimed at helping the country return to normal functioning.

The crisis intensified despite the government reaching an agreement on Friday with the country's main labour union, the Bolivian Workers' Confederation (COB), in an effort to ease tensions.

The unrest began after Paz's government cut long-standing fuel subsidies as part of efforts to reduce the fiscal deficit amid a worsening shortage of US dollars and ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Although the government later introduced measures to stabilise fuel prices and rolled back some unpopular land reforms, protests continued and expanded into broader demands, including wage increases, an end to fuel and dollar shortages, and Paz's resignation.

Several protest groups, many aligned with former president Evo Morales, have blocked major highways and transport routes, disrupting the movement of goods and affecting supplies to several regions, including the capital, La Paz.

Officials said the emergency declaration gives the government wider constitutional powers to restore public order, including deploying armed forces to remove blockades and reopen roads.

What sparked Bolivia's crisis?

The protests began in early May after President Rodrigo Paz's government introduced austerity measures, including cuts to long-standing fuel subsidies, in an effort to reduce the fiscal deficit amid a worsening dollar shortage and talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

What started as labour strikes gradually evolved into a nationwide anti-government movement involving workers' unions, miners, transport workers, teachers, indigenous groups and rural communities.

The protesters have accused the government of failing to address rising living costs, fuel shortages, inflation and economic hardship.

Teachers have demanded higher wages and increased funding, transport unions have launched strikes over fuel shortages and supply concerns, while indigenous and rural groups have opposed land reforms they say favour large landowners.

Although the government later repealed a controversial agrarian law and introduced measures to stabilise fuel prices, demonstrations continued and broadened into calls for Paz's resignation.

The crisis has been amplified by supporters of former president Evo Morales, who have backed the protests and organised road blockades across key transport routes.

Morales has described the demonstrations as a response to economic hardship and political persecution.

The blockades have stranded trucks, disrupted supplies of food, fuel and medicines, and left some patients unable to reach hospitals.

Authorities have blamed opposition groups and Morales allies for fuelling the unrest, which they say has contributed to at least three deaths.