A failed coup attempt shook Bolivia on Wednesday as top general Juan José Zuñiga and allied members of the military tried to storm the presidential palace but quickly retreated. Zuñiga was then taken into custody, and President Luis Arce called on Bolivians to organize and mobilize for democracy. The incursion lasted only three hours as support for the coup was minimal. Zuñiga claimed Arce had asked him to stage the coup, but was arrested shortly after making the statement. An investigation was opened into Zuñiga and others involved, with the attorney general seeking the maximum punishment.
The coup attempt came during a tense moment for Bolivia as Arce and former President Evo Morales vied for control of their party. Arce has been accused of undemocratic moves, including the detention of opposition figures. Zuñiga briefly entered the palace during the attempt, making a speech criticizing the government and calling for a true democracy.
Regional leaders, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico, condemned the attempted coup. Political analysts noted that the military’s discontent stemmed from feeling punished for defending the established order when a new government takes over. Despite Bolivia’s history of political turmoil, the coup attempt lacked support and was described as an “adventure of a small group of soldiers” by analyst Carlos Saavedra. The swift intervention by police and replacement of military leaders prevented the coup from succeeding, preserving Bolivia’s democratically elected government.
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