Bolivia: demonstrations against the government begin to spread

A man blocks a street during an indefinite strike organized by unions opposed to the government of Bolivian President Luis Arce, in Santa Cruz, October 24, 2022. AFP - AIZAR RALDES

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In Bolivia, demonstrations that began in the east of the country, a bastion of opposition to the government, are beginning to spread throughout the territory.

The opposition gathers behind the demand for a population census in 2023, and not in 2024 as the government wants.

While Santa Cruz has been paralyzed for 17 days now, discontent threatens the rest of the country.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in La Paz,

While a round table is currently taking place in the city of Trinidad, to set a date for the census of the Bolivian population, the opposition to the government is gradually tightening its measures.

The city of Santa Cruz, where it all started, has been paralyzed for more than two weeks, and in the cities of Oruro, Tarija or Cochabamba, hunger strikes or rallies come to express anger. -bol against the government wanting to organize the count of its population in 2024.

In principle, this census should have been done in 2022. This was not the case, the opposition therefore demands 2023. The government replies that the material conditions are not met.

But is it really the census that unleashes all these passions?

Nothing is less certain, according to journalist Susana Bejarano.

The subject of the date of the census is no longer the central theme.

The conflict has become an opportunity for many: for those who would like to overthrow President Arce, or for others who enjoy a walkabout in order to restore their image.

Meanwhile, in the rest of the country, the prices of certain products are increasing due to the blockages, and the tension is rising, several episodes of violence are to be deplored at certain roadblocks.

►Read again: Demonstrations in Bolivia: street clashes leave one dead

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Bolivia

• Luis Arce

• Social issues