It was yesterday afternoon local time that military vehicles drove through the gates of the Government Palace in La Paz. The country’s president Luis Acre announced a short time later that they were facing an attempted coup led by General Juan Jose Zuniga. Zuniga is the country’s former defense chief, who was deposed a short time ago after a conflict with the president. During the chaos, the president installed a new defense leadership, and they ordered the soldiers back. Under the leadership of General Juan Jose Zuniga, soldiers lined up outside the government palace in La Paz. Photo: Juan Karita / AP Tried to replace the government On the spot, General Zuniga confirmed his intention. – The armed forces intend to restructure democracy, to make it a real democracy, and not a democracy ruled by the same few people for 30-40 years, Zuniga said outside the presidential palace. Bolivian television showed the moment President Luis Arce confronted Zuniga in the hallway of the government palace. – I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers. I will not allow this disobedience, Arce told Zuniga. Photo: AIZAR RALDES / AFP Coup general arrested On the night of Thursday, Reuters reports that Zuniga has been arrested on suspicion of attempted coup. A few hours before the arrest became known, the country’s president announced that they were facing an attempted coup, led by General Zuniga. General Juan Jose Zuniga is behind bars and charged with attempted coup. Photo: Juan Karita / AP Yesterday’s coup attempt is directly linked to the presidential election in Bolivia in 2025, where the country’s former president Evo Morales plans to run against his former ally Luis Acre. Both belong to the left. Morales was the country’s president from 2006 to 2019, but had to flee the country after extensive protests in 2019. The conservatives then took over power, but lost the presidential election in 2020. General Juan Jose Zuniga has previously warned against Morales returning to power, because he believes it will return Bolivia to political and economic chaos. Several countries condemn Mexico’s and Brazil strongly condemn the coup attempt, writes Reuters. So do the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and the president of Honduras. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asks for respect for democracy in Bolivia. – Spain strongly condemns the actions of the military in Bolivia. We express our support and solidarity with the Bolivian government and its people, says Sanchez. Photo: Juan Karita / AP Published 26.06.2024, at 22.37 Updated 27.06.2024, at 06.00
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Tension in Bolivia after coup attempt – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
