Bolivian President Luis Arce has denounced the “irregular mobilization” of some army units in La Paz, as former leader Evo Morales accused a top general of plotting a coup. Videos on social media show heavily armed soldiers and armored vehicles gathering in the central Plaza Murillo.
General Juan Jose Zuniga, speaking to a local TV station, expressed the armed forces’ dismay and hinted at changes in the government, saying, “There will be a new cabinet of ministers, surely things will change, but our country cannot continue like this any longer.”
Morales, who has split with Arce despite belonging to the same socialist movement, announced a national mobilization of his supporters to defend democracy. He accused Zuniga of attempting a coup and called for a general work stoppage, including road blockades. Morales stated, “We will not allow the armed forces to violate democracy and intimidate people.”
The situation remains tense as the country awaits further developments. President Arce warned on Wednesday that an “irregular” deployment of troops was taking place in the Bolivian capital, raising concerns that a potential coup was underway.
He called for “democracy to be respected” in a message on his X account as Bolivian television showed two tanks and a number of military personnel in front of the government palace.
Former Bolivian president Evo Morales, also in a message on X, denounced the movement of the military in the Murillo square outside the palace, calling it a coup “in the making.”