June 26th 2024.
Early this morning, there was a shocking event at Bolivia's government palace. Armoured vehicles crashed into the doors in an apparent attempt to overthrow President Luis Arce. Despite this threat, the president remained steadfast and even went on to appoint a new army commander who ordered the troops to stand down.
As the dust settled and the soldiers pulled back, a sense of relief and triumph filled the hearts of Arce's supporters. In the central square, they waved Bolivian flags and cheered, showing their unwavering loyalty to their leader.
In a video that surfaced later, Arce could be seen surrounded by his ministers in the palace. He addressed the nation, saying, "We are here, standing strong at Casa Grande, ready to face any attempt at a coup. We need the Bolivian people to come together and stand with us."
One of the most tense moments of the day was when Arce came face to face with the general commander of the army, Juan José Zúñiga. In a video that was broadcasted on Bolivian television, it was apparent that Zúñiga was the leader of the rebellion. However, Arce did not back down and confronted him in the palace hallway. "I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers. I will not tolerate this insubordination," Arce asserted.
Before the events at the government palace, Zúñiga had spoken to journalists in the plaza, hinting at a possible change in the government. "Soon, there will be a new Cabinet of ministers. Our country cannot continue like this," he stated. However, he also made it clear that for the time being, he recognizes Arce as the commander in chief.
Although Zúñiga did not explicitly admit to leading a coup, in the palace, with the sound of explosions in the background, he stated that the army's goal was to "restore democracy and free our political prisoners."
As the situation unfolded, Arce took to his X account to call for democracy to be respected. Meanwhile, footage from Bolivian television showed two tanks and several soldiers in uniform stationed outside the government palace.
In a video message sent to news outlets, Arce said, "We cannot allow coup attempts to endanger the lives of Bolivians. We must stand together to defend our democracy." Shortly after, he announced new heads of the army, navy, and air force, accompanied by the cheers and support of his followers. Outside the palace, troops could be seen setting up blockades.
The newly appointed army chief, José Wilson Sánchez, addressed the troops, saying, "I order all those who are mobilized to return to their units. We do not want to see any more violence on the streets." It was a moment of relief as the soldiers and armoured vehicles started pulling back from the presidential palace.
The largest labor union in Bolivia immediately condemned the attempted coup and called for an indefinite strike of social and labor organizations in La Paz to support the government.
The news of the coup attempt spread like wildfire, causing outrage among regional leaders, including the Organisation of American States, the president of neighbouring Chile, the leader of Honduras, and former Bolivian leaders.
Bolivia, a country with a population of 12 million, has been facing intense protests over the past few months due to the steep decline of its economy. What was once one of the continent's fastest-growing economies is now facing a severe crisis.
Adding to the turmoil is the high-profile rift between Arce and his former ally, leftist icon and former President Evo Morales. They are currently in a battle for the future of Bolivia's governing party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), ahead of the upcoming elections in 2025.
The incident at the government palace was a reminder of the fragility of democracy and the power of the people to come together and defend it. It is a lesson that Bolivia will not soon forget.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
