Anti-Government Protests Resurge in Bolivia; Calls for President's Resignation Continue
Anti-government protests have intensified in La Paz, Bolivia. Driven by economic crisis, fuel shortages, and inflation, labor unions and indigenous groups are demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz. Clashes with police continue, fueling political instability.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 23, 2026 at 18:14
- 🔍 Collected: May 23, 2026 at 18:31 (16 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 31, 2026 at 20:55 (194h 23m after Collected)
Riot police in Bolivia clashed with anti-government protesters in the capital, La Paz, yesterday, marking the second such incident within a week. Labor unions and indigenous groups continue to demand the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.
According to AFP, although Paz has promised to address the grievances of labor groups and indigenous communities, calls for the resignation of this business-friendly conservative president remain constant.
When Paz took office six months ago, Bolivia was mired in its worst economic crisis since the 1980s, facing extreme shortages of fuel and foreign currency, as well as runaway inflation. The annual inflation rate in April reached 14%.
To stem the loss of foreign exchange reserves, Paz ordered the cancellation of fuel subsidies that had been in place for 20 years, but he has yet to stabilize fuel supplies.
Protesters, consisting of farmers, workers, miners, transporters, and teachers, paralyzed traffic in La Paz, shouting, "He should resign!"
Melina Apaza, a 50-year-old protester from the southern mining hub of Oruro, told AFP, "He has been in office for six months and hasn't even solved the most basic problems... Now we even have to choose between buying meat or milk."
Protesters threw sticks and stones at riot police, who fired tear gas to prevent them from approaching the square in front of government buildings.
Paz tried to quell the anger by replacing the unpopular labor minister and promising to give miners and other protest groups more say in policy-making. However, these gestures seem to have failed.
Labor unions began their actions in early May, demanding wage increases, improved fuel supplies, and economic stability. However, as time passed, the scale of the protests snowballed into full-scale unrest, with intense calls for the resignation of Paz, who is supported by the United States.
According to AFP, although Paz has promised to address the grievances of labor groups and indigenous communities, calls for the resignation of this business-friendly conservative president remain constant.
When Paz took office six months ago, Bolivia was mired in its worst economic crisis since the 1980s, facing extreme shortages of fuel and foreign currency, as well as runaway inflation. The annual inflation rate in April reached 14%.
To stem the loss of foreign exchange reserves, Paz ordered the cancellation of fuel subsidies that had been in place for 20 years, but he has yet to stabilize fuel supplies.
Protesters, consisting of farmers, workers, miners, transporters, and teachers, paralyzed traffic in La Paz, shouting, "He should resign!"
Melina Apaza, a 50-year-old protester from the southern mining hub of Oruro, told AFP, "He has been in office for six months and hasn't even solved the most basic problems... Now we even have to choose between buying meat or milk."
Protesters threw sticks and stones at riot police, who fired tear gas to prevent them from approaching the square in front of government buildings.
Paz tried to quell the anger by replacing the unpopular labor minister and promising to give miners and other protest groups more say in policy-making. However, these gestures seem to have failed.
Labor unions began their actions in early May, demanding wage increases, improved fuel supplies, and economic stability. However, as time passed, the scale of the protests snowballed into full-scale unrest, with intense calls for the resignation of Paz, who is supported by the United States.
FAQ
How long has the economic crisis in Bolivia been going on?
It has been severe since the current administration took office six months ago.