The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, denounced on Wednesday “irregular mobilizations of some units of the Bolivian Army” and called for respect for democracy, which raised fears of a coup d’état in the country, while television images showed the deployment of soldiers in front of the Government Palace in La Paz.
The former Bolivian president, Evo Morales, also in a message on X, before Twitter, denounced the mobilization of military forces in Murillo Square, where the government headquarters are located, and mentioned that "a coup d'état is being orchestrated."
Television images showed at least two military tanks and a group of soldiers in front of the government headquarters, who later entered the palace.
The General Commander of the Army, Juan José Zúñiga, present at Plaza Murillo, confirmed the mobilization of troops and said: "We are upset by the outrage that is happening, enough is enough." Without giving further details on what he was referring to, he spoke on television about "attacks on democracy" and that "there will soon be a change in the cabinet."
The Government Palace of Bolivia was guarded by police units and on Wednesday the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, was also at the door, while in front there were military tanks and several mobilized soldiers, as shown on television.
The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States condemned what is happening in Bolivia and called for the Army to submit "to the legitimately elected civilian power."
Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the OAS, spoke out from Asunción and rejected the situation: "The international community, the OAS, and the OAS General Secretariat will not tolerate any form of breach of the legitimate constitutional order in Bolivia, or anywhere else."