On Wednesday afternoon, Arce called on citizens to hit the streets and protect Bolivia's democracy from what seemed like a coup attempt. Troops had taken over a key square in La Paz where government offices are located.
"We're urging the Bolivian people to rally and unite against this coup and stand up for democracy," Arce declared in a video from the Great House of the People, Bolivia's official presidential residence in La Paz.
Surrounded by his cabinet members, Arce stated firmly, "We can't let attempted coups cost Bolivian lives again."
The ministers cheered, raising their fists and shouting, "Long live the people of Bolivia! Long live democracy! Long live President Luis Arce!"
These comments followed claims from other members of Arce's administration and leaders across Latin America that a military-led coup was in progress.
"We're informing the international community that there's been an attempt to overthrow our democratically elected government," tweeted Vice-President David Choquehuanca on Wednesday afternoon.
In a video, Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda stated that certain army units had attacked "democracy, peace, and national security."
Former president Evo Morales raised concerns as disturbing images of the unrest circulated on social media. Morales called on his supporters to hit the streets and block roads in opposition to the alleged coup attempt. He pointed fingers at the recently dismissed army commander, Gen Juan José Zúñiga, who was reportedly ousted just before Wednesday's chaos began.
"We won't let the armed forces undermine democracy and intimidate the people," wrote Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous president, who fled the country in 2019 following what his supporters describe as a US-backed coup. Morales returned from exile after Arce was elected the next year.
The night before his 2020 inauguration, Arce, an economist educated in the UK, told the Guardian: "We've restored democracy in Bolivia, and our stance is clear: we won't accept any form of dictatorship or coup in Latin America."
On Wednesday afternoon, democracy seemed threatened as TV footage showed masked military police forcibly entering the Palacio Quemado.
According to the newspaper Los Tiempos, Bolivia's army chief said that Arce was still president "for now," but as time went on, Arce appeared to regain control. The president directly confronted Zúñiga upon his arrival at the palace and was recorded telling the general to withdraw his troops: "I'm your leader. Follow my orders."
By late afternoon, Arce had appointed a new military leadership, and there were reports that troops and armored vehicles were pulling back from Plaza Murillo in La Paz's historic center, where the apparent rebellion had unfolded messily.
The new army chief, José Wilson Sánchez Velásquez, appeared on state TV with Arce and instructed the troops who had taken to the streets to go back to their barracks. Meanwhile, the president's supporters cheered, chanting: "Democracy! Democracy! Democracy!"
By the evening, reports emerged that Zúñiga had been arrested on charges of terrorism and armed uprising at the entrance to the general staff headquarters in La Paz. Video footage showed him being taken away in a white police pickup truck.
Tensions are rising in Bolivia as the country prepares for the 2025 general elections. Former ally Morales, now on the left, is set to challenge President Arce, causing a significant divide within the ruling socialist party and increasing political uncertainty.
Recently, Zúñiga stated that Morales shouldn't be allowed to return as president and even threatened to stop him if he tried. This prompted Arce to dismiss Zúñiga from his position.
Before the assault on the presidential palace, Zúñiga spoke to reporters in the square, highlighting rising frustration in Bolivia. The country, facing economic challenges like a downturn, low central bank reserves, and pressure on its currency due to declining gas exports, was experiencing heightened tensions.
In full uniform and surrounded by soldiers, he declared, "Stop damaging our country, stop making us poorer, stop disrespecting our army." He claimed the public backed the actions being taken.
During the unfolding drama, leaders from across Latin America, spanning different political views, condemned the attempted power grab. Mexico's incoming left-leaning president, Claudia Sheinbaum, criticized what she termed an "assault on democracy." She expressed unwavering support for President LuÃs Arce and the Bolivian people on social media.
Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, called on Bolivians to protect their democracy, constitution, and president. He strongly opposed fascism and coup attempts, questioning how such actions could be attempted in the 21st century.
Brazil's government held an urgent meeting to address the crisis. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized to reporters, "I want democracy to thrive in Latin America. Coups have never brought positive outcomes."
Speaking from nearby Paraguay, the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, stated firmly that they would not tolerate any disruption of Bolivia's legitimate constitutional order.
In Europe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez voiced condemnation and urged respect for democracy and the rule of law. He tweeted that Spain strongly denounces the military actions in Bolivia.
The British ambassador in Bolivia, Richard Porter, stated he is closely watching the situation and emphasized, "The United Kingdom condemns any attempt to seize power through unconstitutional methods."
SOURCE: The Guardian