By Halloween last fall, there was huge hope for another turnaround, another Latin miracle in South America. The Bolivian people had chosen a centrist as their president after over two decades of Marxist rule.
Rodrigo Paz, whose campaign slogan had been Capitalism for all, was the new Bolivian leader-elect and a promised repudiation of the socialist/communist/Marxist ideology which had proven so devastating to the natural resources-rich, but economically impoverished country.
Bolivia's 🇧🇴 new president, Rodrigo Paz, announces that he will NOT invite the dictatorships of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua to his presidential inauguration on November 8. pic.twitter.com/fkuWls2pBG
— BowTiedMara (@BowTiedMara) October 22, 2025
Even before taking the oath of office, Paz was warmly welcomed in Washington by our Secretary of State, and plans were underway to secure mutual agreements for such desperately needed supplies as fuel deliveries to Bolivia, as well as secure access to the country's wealth of lithium deposits for the United States.
One friendly hand washes the other, as the old truism goes.
But unlike many of the recent rightward moves in Latin America, this one has not gone as smoothly, and can be attributed to one man - Evo Morales, the indigenous former president, hardened Marxist (disciple of both Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez), and cocalero or coca leaf grower with strong cocaine trafficking ties. Morales left a hand-picked lieutenant in office as president when he finally vacated, named Luis Arce. But by the time of this election, the two former comrades had fallen out over blaming each other for the miserable state of the country.
The Bolivian people blamed them both and gave Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), only 3% when everything was counted up.
Nobody is a worse sore loser than a lefty, and drug and revolutionary-fueled Marxists are the worst of all.
Protests that many believe have been driven by Morales and his supporters are now into their 36th day, and, in the most concerning development of all, they have erected roadblocks that have kept the capital city of La Paz effectively blockaded for weeks from vital supplies of fuel, medicine, and food. Oxygen for infants in incubators is reportedly in short supply.
Newborns at a maternity hospital in Bolivia's capital La Paz faced life-threatening oxygen shortages as weeks of road blockades by anti-government protesters continued to choke off vital supplies to the city pic.twitter.com/nbZSoTfEfu
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 5, 2026
Paz's government, made up of centrists and right-wing hardliners, has been hard-pressed to find a workable middle ground to deal with the unrest, as well as the completely legitimate complaints about a country in near-economic collapse left to them by the Arce/Morales years.
The 'dissonance' among government advisors itself is adding to the sense of chaos.
Bolivia has reached over 30 days of nationwide blockades and protests, ignited by President Rodrigo Paz's neoliberal reforms, proposed privatization of indigenous lands, and judicial actions against workers' unions and former socialist presidents Luis Arce and Evo Morales.
The social conflict has had immense repercussions for the country's democracy, stability, and endurance. Paz has said the country is at a "breaking point."
So far, seven people have died, dozens injured, and hundreds arrested. There are now 94 blockade points throughout the country, effectively cutting off the Department of La Paz, and with it the capital, from essential goods and services. Almost no food, fuel, or medicine is entering, and inflation has skyrocketed as a result.
The Paz government has pursued a highly dissonant approach to the protests, reflecting the wide ideological spectrum within its coalition. This ranges from figures formerly affiliated with the MAS and close to indigenous social movements, such as Vice-President Edmand Lara, to more hardline right-wing figures like anti-drug czar Ernesto Justiniano. Though Paz's government openly calls itself "centrist" and "moderate," this dual approach has brought discord to the cabinet's response.
On one hand, the government has prioritized "dialogue and negotiation" with various social sectors. It has issued decrees, repealed laws, and introduced bills to meet their demands. Superminister Jose Luis Lupo and Vice-President Lara have been highly supportive of this diplomacy-forward approach.
The 'demands' for the newly and duly elected president's resignation are coming from the Morales indigenous and narco-trafficking bloc.
People in Bolivia are becoming increasingly desperate. For a month protesters have blocked the roads into the country’s seat of government. They are demanding the president resign https://t.co/UwsMXPRMfC
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) June 5, 2026
Morales is busy keeping everyone riled up and feeding the anti-US 'puppet' theme from his undisclosed hiding place.
Mientras el pueblo lucha por defender su economÃa, sus recursos naturales y su derecho a decidir su propio destino, Estados Unidos vuelve a inmiscuirse en los asuntos internos de Bolivia para respaldar a un gobierno cada vez más cuestionado. Ahora recurren nuevamente al discurso… pic.twitter.com/IkdqUDsqZl
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) June 5, 2026
...While the people struggle to defend their economy, their natural resources, and their right to decide their own destiny, the United States once again meddles in Bolivia's internal affairs to prop up a government that is increasingly questioned. Now they are resorting again to the rhetoric of "narco-terrorism" to stigmatize social protest and discredit the legitimate demands of those who defend democracy, sovereignty, and our natural resources.
Bolivia does not need tutelage or threats. It needs the will of its people to be respected, along with its sovereign right to decide on lithium, land, and the future of our Homeland.
Useful American progressive tools are happy for Bolivians to remain hungry, penniless, and at the mercy of Marxist masters.
This poster is a 'reporter' at DropSiteNews with half a million followers.
Bolivia’s embattled president has complained to the manager https://t.co/SiN8Vzl8wG
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) June 5, 2026
And Morales' little army is swiftly returning what progress had been made in a short time to what got his party thrown out of office to begin with.
Rural workers in Bolivia have seized an oil field in the Santa Cruz region and halted all production, as part of the general strike against neoliberalism.
— Ollie Vargas (@Ollie_Vargas_) June 3, 2026
The site, in the Santa Rosa del Sara municipality, is now fully offline. pic.twitter.com/IKjZjfvKNI
Both the Bolivian defence and education ministers resigned on Tuesday, in the teeth of the protests. Paz has been remarkably composed as far as declaring a state of emergency - he has yet to pull that trigger but has not ruled it out.
The government has refused to rule out declaring a state of emergency and using the military to control the demonstrations.
Bolivia's defence and education ministers resigned on Tuesday after weeks of protests demanding President Rodrigo Paz step down, authorities said.
The departures are the latest escalation in a deepening political crisis that has paralysed major cities and threatened Paz's government.
Workers, farmers, miners, transport workers and teachers are demanding measures to ease the country's worst economic crisis in four decades.
Paz, who was backed by US President Donald Trump, has warned that Bolivia is at a "breaking point."
Very clever of the opposition to suggest a referendum to remove the president.
...Amid the political and social deadlock, some opposition figures have floated an alternative that until a few weeks ago seemed unlikely: bringing forward a recall referendum to decide whether Paz should remain in office.
The proposal has gained momentum as the protests and roadblocks isolating La Paz and El Alto drag on, and as doubts grow over the government's ability to restore order.
The proposal, promoted by opposition leaders and backed by some analysts as a way to resolve the crisis, calls for a referendum in the coming months so that Bolivians can decide whether Paz should remain in office.
For now, the government says dialogue is its priority and rules out any possibility of resignation.
President Paz has already got himself a defence minister in place - his anti-drug czar stepped into the role.
Desde hoy, el nuevo Ministro de Defensa, Ernesto Justiniano suma su experiencia para la recuperación del bienestar de los bolivianos, que exige cambios necesarios. Bolivia es una sola.
— Rodrigo Paz Pereira (@Rodrigo_PazP) June 3, 2026
Frente a quienes buscan dividirla con mentiras, violencia y bloqueos, reafirmamos nuestro…
Starting today, the new Minister of Defense, Ernesto Justiniano, brings his experience to the recovery of the well-being of Bolivians, which demands necessary changes. Bolivia is one.
In the face of those who seek to divide it with lies, violence, and blockades, we reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution, democracy, dialogue, and transparency. We listen to the just demands of the social sectors and continue to call for frank dialogue, while also requesting the opening of humanitarian corridors so that food, medicines, and fuel can reach those who need them most.
I believe that the transformation of the country is built with strong institutions, a fight against corruption and drug trafficking, with inclusion and respect among Bolivians.
This is the battle of all battles. For our future, let us leave behind the past of "anything goes" and build an orderly, free, and united homeland.
Before the tricolor, the patujú, the wiphala, we are all Bolivians.
And he has been in constant contact with his counterparts in Washington, who are sending supplies and expressing support for the embattled Paz.
Secretario de Guerra de USA Pete Hegseth advierte que no tolerarán golpe de estado en Bolivia 🇧🇴 para derrocar el legÃtimo gobierno de Rodrigo Paz pic.twitter.com/Qh8JTnL7gA
— Arturo McFields Yescas (@ArturoMcfields) June 4, 2026
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warns that they will not tolerate a coup d'état in Bolivia to overthrow the legitimate government of Rodrigo Paz
Let there be no mistake: the United States stands squarely in support of Bolivia's legitimate constitutional government.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 20, 2026
We will not allow criminals and drug traffickers to overthrow democratically elected leaders in our hemisphere.
The situation seems to be at an impasse that grows more insurmountable every day the Paz government wavers indecisively.
And they really do have few palatable choices to quell this orchestrated revolt.
As much as President Paz recoils from having to call out the military to clear the roads and move the indigenous protestors of Maroles' cocalera army out, he may well be forced to. The optics are going to be absolutely horrible, but he is up against a hardened, narco-trafficking communist (who is on trial at the moment for trafficking a 15-year-old native girl he impregnated), desperate to regain by force the power he lost legally.
Bolivia could be lost for good if Morales succeeds.
Sorry.
Marco Rubio realizing he is going to have to run Bolivia pic.twitter.com/TNwCkSTw7J
— doodlifts (@doodlifts) May 20, 2026
Had to.
