The political crisis in Bolivia has deepened as the government of Rodrigo Paz faces escalating protests, mounting economic pressure, and growing political fragmentation.
The situation unfolds amid nationwide blockades and demonstrations led by multiple social and political sectors demanding the resignation of the president, further destabilizing governance and public order across the country.
In response to the ongoing crisis, President Rodrigo Paz appointed Ernesto Justiniano as the new Minister of Defense. Justiniano, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Social Defense and Controlled Substances, replaces Marcelo Salinas, who stepped down amid rising tensions within the government.
In his first public statement, Justiniano said his priority would be "to return the country to normality", stressing the role of the Armed Forces in restoring stability. He also stated that Bolivia "does not need more violence, but peace, state presence, supplies, security and democratic coexistence".
The reshuffle comes shortly after the resignation of Education Minister Beatriz García, marking a broader shake-up within the cabinet during a period of heightened instability.
As tensions escalate, the government has increasingly relied on security forces to manage unrest and maintain supply routes across affected regions.
Authorities have attempted to establish humanitarian corridors to deliver essential goods to isolated cities. However, operations involving police and military personnel have repeatedly ended in clashes and unrest, reflecting the fragility of the situation on the ground. The executive branch has also discussed the possibility of declaring a sector-specific state of emergency, though officials insist this would remain a last resort.
Protests and road blockades have persisted for approximately five weeks, driven by farmers, workers, and supporters of former president Evo Morales.
The mobilizations include peasant unions from the highlands, the Bolivian Workers' Center (COB), and political militants aligned with Morales, heavily affecting key urban centers, including La Paz, El Alto, and Oruro. Additionally, blockades have expanded to eight of Bolivia’s nine regions, severely disrupting transportation and limiting access between major population centers.
This comes after Bolivia's lower house of Congress has cleared the way for Paz to deploy the military against demonstrators, repealing a key piece of legislation that had constrained executive authority to impose states of emergency since the country's last deadly political crisis seven years ago.
The Chamber of Deputies voted by more than a two-thirds majority on May 27 to repeal Law 1341.
Moreover, the prolonged blockades have triggered widespread shortages of fuel, food, medicine, and medical oxygen, worsening living conditions in affected areas. Health services have been particularly strained, with at least nine reported deaths, including six individuals who reportedly could not receive timely medical attention due to road closures.
The business sector estimates economic losses exceeding $1.9 billion, compounding an already fragile economic situation that has persisted since 2023.
Despite mounting pressure, mobilized groups have refused to enter dialogue with the government, maintaining their demand for President Paz’s resignation.
In response to the deadlock, some political actors have proposed advancing a recall referendum that would determine the continuity of the president, parliament, and Vice President Edmand Lara. As divisions deepen and protests continue, Bolivia faces an increasingly uncertain political future with limited signs of immediate de-escalation.