Bolivian government receives international support in the face of attempted military coup

The president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Luis Arce, denounced this Wednesday (26) unusual movements by certain units of the Bolivian Army in Murillo Square, in La Paz. Amid this tense scenario, several international leaders rushed to express their support for Arce’s government and emphasized the importance of protecting Bolivian democracy.

The situation in Bolivia remains critical, with the government denouncing irregular movements by the Army and warning of a possible coup d’état. The response from international leaders highlights the importance of protecting democracy and ensuring that the will of the Bolivian people is respected. The solidarity and support expressed demonstrate a regional commitment to defending democratic stability in Bolivia.

Political instability has been frequent in recent governments in Bolivia. Luis Arce’s government was preceded by that of Evo Morales, who resigned on November 10, 2019 amid an attempted coup d’état.

Reporting irregular movements

“We denounce irregular movements by some Bolivian Army units in Murillo Square, in La Paz. Democracy must be respected,” said the president on his Facebook account. Murillo Square, the main seat of the Bolivian government, was surrounded by military presence and protests by social organizations demanding respect for democracy.

The Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, denounced that the military took control of the four corners of the square in an “attempted coup d’état”. According to Prada, the military did not allow any authority to enter or leave the Casa Grande do Povo. She appealed to the population to prevent the breakdown of democracy, remembering the tragic events of 2019.

Governments for democracy

The president of Brazil, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, called an emergency meeting to deal with the attempted coup d’état in Bolivia. To journalists, he said: “As I am a lover of democracy, I want democracy to prevail. In Latin America, the coup never worked.”

The General Secretariat of OAS (Organization of American States) strongly condemned the events in Bolivia. “The Army must submit to the legitimately elected civil power. We send our solidarity to the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce Catacora, to his government and to all the Bolivian people”, wrote in X, the secretary general of the OAS, Luis Almagro. “The international community, the OAS and the General Secretariat will not tolerate any violation of the legitimate constitutional order in Bolivia or anywhere else.”

The president of ParaguaySantiago Peña, host of the OAS meeting in Asunción, said he condemned “the irregular mobilizations of the Bolivian army denounced by President Luis Arce”, and made a “strong appeal for respect for democracy and the rule of law”, in statements on X .

Gabriel Boric, presidente do Chileexpressed “concern for the situation in Bolivia”, and highlighted “support for democracy in our sister country and for the legitimate government of Luis Arce”.

“We strongly condemn the unacceptable action of force by a sector of the Army of that country. We cannot tolerate any violation of the legitimate constitutional order in Bolivia or anywhere else”, concluded the Chilean leader.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, of Cuba, expressed outrage at the images of violence against democracy and the Bolivian people, showing solidarity with Arce: “We repudiate the attempted coup d’état underway and extend all the solidarity of the Cuban government and people to brother Luis Arce. We denounce signs of possible military action against the Constitution of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, which would have serious consequences. We reject attempts to subvert the popular will.”

To President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, of Hondurascalled on the presidents of the member countries of CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) to condemn the fascism that is currently attacking democracy in Bolivia: “The military forces have once again carried out a criminal coup d’état. We express our unconditional support to the brotherly people of Bolivia, to President Luis Arce and to Evo Morales.”

Through the official account of the Presidency on X, the head of state of PeruDina Boluarte, said that the country “strongly condemns the attempted constitutional rupture in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and that it “supports the people and the constitutional government of President Luis Arce, and rejects any act that threatens the democratic and institutional order of that country ”.

“In the same way, [o Peru] expresses its support for institutional efforts to preserve order and the rule of law in the sister country of Bolivia”, concludes the publication.

In a statement, the Chancellery of Ecuador he said he “regrets what happened in Bolivia”, and that the country “hopes for the validity of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for the established constitutional order”.

“We trust in a peaceful way out of this serious situation. We reiterate our solidarity with the Bolivian people”, concludes the brief statement.

The president of MexicoAndrés Manuel López Obrador, stated in X that his government expresses “the most vehement condemnation of the attempted coup d’état in Bolivia”.

“Our full support and support for President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, the authentic democratic authority of this city and sister country,” wrote the Mexican leader.

Criticism also came from the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, head of the bloc’s diplomacy, said in X that the EU “condemns any attempt to disturb the constitutional order in Bolivia, and to overthrow democratically elected governments, and expresses its solidarity with the Bolivian government and people.”

The vice-president of Nicaragua, comrade Rosario Murillo, in a message through the communication channel Poder Cidadão, announced the position of the Government of Nicaragua in which it denounces and condemns the attempted coup d’état in the sister Republic of Bolivia.

“We denounce the military maneuvers and movements taking place in the center of the Bolivian capital, La Paz, in an attempt to intimidate the efforts of the people of this brotherly country, to transcend and advance on their own paths, in accordance with their own Democratic Models, and, in in accordance with Aspirations and Rights, live creating your own Destiny, without interference or interventions of any kind”, says the Nicaraguan government, remembering its history of resistance to foreign aggression.

Regional mobilization and alert

Support from civil society is also accumulating quickly as events in La Paz come to a head. Several Latin American leaders expressed support for President Luis Arce and condemned any attempted coup d’état:

The Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) denounced the “serious threat made by military coup plotters in Bolivia this Wednesday (26), against the democratic state and the legally elected government”.

“The immediate solidarity of Latin American countries is needed to isolate, defeat and punish the coup plotters. It is unacceptable that Latin America still has to live with archaic and authoritarian outbursts by those who consider themselves above the sovereign power of the people, in the service of external interests. To President Luis Arce, to the democratic forces of Bolivia and to the entire Bolivian people, our unrestricted solidarity”, says the note signed by the Secretary of International Relations of the PCdoB, Ana Prestes.

The PCdoB bench in the Chamber of Deputies also denounces the “serious threat made by military coup plotters in Bolivia this Wednesday (26) against the democratic state and the legally elected government”.
“The PCdoB bench joins the voices in defense of democracy in Bolivia, of the Bolivian people and of the legitimately elected government. To President Luis Arce, to the democratic forces of Bolivia and to all the Bolivian people, our unrestricted solidarity.”

The federal deputy Jandira Feghali (PCdoB-RJ), from Brazil, stated: “Bolivia is suffering from yet another coup d’état. Five years after the military removed Evo Morales from power, they once again attacked the democracy of our sister South American country, today presided over by Luis Arce. Brazil and Latin America will no longer tolerate this violence against the Bolivian people. Democracy now and exemplary punishment for all coup plotters!”

The organization ALBA Movements warned about the new attempted coup d’état and called on social and popular movements in the region to be on alert and mobilize to defend the popular will of the Bolivian people. In their statement, they emphasized the importance of maintaining the constitutional order that the Bolivian people have defended since the recovery of democracy in 2020, after the 2019 coup d’état.

“We call on social and popular movements in the region to be on alert and mobilize to defend the popular will of the Bolivian people who elected Luis Arce Catacora as their president in 2020. We stand in solidarity with the organizations and people of sister Bolivia in the face of a new intention of blow.”