Bolivian President Seeks Military Powers to Quell Month-Long Protests

President Rodrigo Paz announced his government will send legislation to Congress enabling the armed forces to dismantle the road blockades that have paralysed Bolivia for more than a month, dramatically escalating his response to protests demanding his resignation. The decision, unveiled at the swearing-in of new Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano following the abrupt departure of his predecessor, comes amid a rapidly deepening political and humanitarian crisis that has already claimed at least ten lives.

The protests, which began as a transport strike in May and metastasised into nationwide blockades, have created acute shortages of food, fuel, and medicines. In La Paz, thousands have been seen queuing for hours to buy basic commodities such as chicken, a stark indicator of collapsing supply chains. Paz inherited a country already convulsed by fuel and dollar scarcities, a 1.58% contraction in GDP in 2025, and inflation running at levels not seen in nearly four decades — economic dysfunctions that have fuelled popular fury.

From Buenos Aires to São Paulo, regional analysts note the rapid erosion of institutional stability: three ministers have resigned in under a week, including those for defence, education, and labour, while the president has sought to pin the unrest on narcotrafficking. “Bolivia faces the battle of all battles,” Paz declared, alleging that resources from drug-producing regions are financing mobilisations against democratic order. Russian state media, by contrast, have presented the cabinet changes as a calibrated response, emphasising Justiniano’s background as deputy defence minister and his role in anti-drug operations — a framing that underscores Moscow’s interest in seeing a stable, military-led resolution to internal strife.

Paz has coupled his hardline rhetoric with an offer of national dialogue and a promise to enlarge his cabinet to incorporate additional social sectors. Yet the proposed law to regulate states of exception — effectively removing remaining legal constraints on military engagement in domestic disturbances — risks alienating international partners concerned about democratic backsliding. The move follows earlier government decisions that had already loosened such restrictions, signalling a steady securitisation of the crisis.

The gamble is immense: if the military is deployed to forcibly clear highways, it could restore some supply lines but would likely inflame tensions and invite accusations of authoritarianism. If the bill falters or the army proves unable to deliver order, Paz’s government may lose its final instruments of control. As humanitarian conditions deteriorate and death tolls rise, the coming weeks will test not only the resilience of Bolivia’s democracy but also the survival instincts of a president who has chosen to wage what he calls the ultimate battle.