COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA – Supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales began large-scale road blockades in central Bolivia on Monday, June 2, demanding the resignation of current President Luis Arce and the registration of Evo Morales as a presidential candidate. These blockades have paralyzed East-West traffic, causing nationwide disruption. Protesters are also demanding that the government address chronic dollar and fuel shortages and guarantee democracy.

 
Background of the Spreading Protests: Dissatisfaction with the Arce Government and Morales' Presidential Ambition

These road blockades are more than just protests; they are a complex result of accumulated dissatisfaction with the Arce government and the political ambitions of former President Evo Morales. The main demands of the protesters are as follows:

Demand for President Luis Arce's Resignation: Protesters criticize that the Bolivian economy is facing a severe crisis and that the government is failing to effectively address the shortages of dollars and fuel. A leader from the Tutimayu area in Cochabamba stated a firm stance, saying, "The people are exhausted and struggling to make a living. We demand that President Arce resign and be replaced by someone more capable." This reflects the public's widespread discontent over the Arce government's economic policy failures.

Demand for Former President Evo Morales' Presidential Candidacy Registration: One of the core demands of these protests is to allow former President Evo Morales to run in the 2025 general election. According to a ruling by Bolivia's Constitutional Court, Morales is currently ineligible to run for a third term under the "one consecutive re-election" principle. Furthermore, the National Action Party (Pan-Bol), which his supporters aimed to use to register Morales as a presidential candidate, lost its legal status after receiving less than 3% of the vote in the 2020 general election. Despite this, Morales' supporters are pressuring the Bolivian Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to accept his candidacy registration.

Demand for Resolution of Dollar and Fuel Shortages: Bolivia has recently experienced severe dollar shortages, leading to difficulties in importing fuel. This has resulted in rising prices and economic instability, directly impacting the lives of citizens. Protesters are strongly urging the government to present practical solutions to these issues.

Demand for Guarantee of Democracy: Morales' supporters claim that the current political situation threatens democracy and have made "guaranteeing democracy" a stated purpose of the protests. This particularly reflects the perception that restricting former President Morales' presidential candidacy infringes upon democratic procedures.

 
Spread of Protests and Government Response

The protests began in Sipe Sipe, Cochabamba, blocking major roads and paralyzing traffic heading east. EFE news agency reported that protesters gathered people on the roads, carried sticks, and erected barricades of dirt and stones to block vehicle movement. This caused long lines of buses and trucks in both directions, forcing passengers to carry their luggage and walk across the blockade points.

Roberto Ríos, Deputy Minister of Government (Minister of Interior), confirmed on June 2 that road blockades were occurring at nine points in the Cochabamba region alone. Minister Ríos strongly criticized the blockades, stating that their purpose was not merely to encircle cities but also to prevent the sale of agricultural products, aiming to "disrupt the general election and overthrow the entire legal system by an unqualified person through a political party." He emphasized that the government would "take all measures to guarantee the rights" of the Bolivian people, indicating a firm response.

Other protesters, who had been demonstrating in La Paz since last week, joined the movement of Morales' supporters by holding additional protests in the city center starting on Tuesday, June 3. This indicates the potential for these protests to spread nationwide beyond specific regions.

 
Deepening Political Conflict Between Evo Morales and Luis Arce

These protests overtly reveal the deepening political conflict between former President Evo Morales and current President Luis Arce. Morales governed Bolivia for three terms from 2006 to 2019 (2006-2009, 2010-2014, 2015-2019), and is now seeking a fourth term. However, Bolivia's Constitutional Court ruled that re-election is allowed "only once consecutively," making further candidacies impossible for Morales.

Since late 2021, Morales has left the ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party due to disagreements with President Arce, and has been in fierce competition with Arce over control of the party and the next presidential candidacy. These road blockades symbolize the peak of this political confrontation. It is expected that Morales' supporters will intensify their protests if their demands are not met, which could further destabilize Bolivia's political situation.

The government is working to prevent the spread of the protests and minimize inconvenience for citizens, but given the protesters' firm stance and former President Morales' political influence, it is likely to take considerable time to resolve the situation. The impact of this situation on Bolivia's political and social stability remains to be seen.