Military Coup in La Paz: President Arce’s Unprecedented Response to Commander-in-Chief Zuniga’s Incursion

On June 26th, around 2:00 p.m., Bolivian Army commander-in-chief Juan Jose Zuniga led hundreds of soldiers and several tankettes to break into the Murillo Square of La Paz, where the Executive and Legislative Powers are located. Zuniga stated that his goal was to “change the government cabinet,” “restore democracy,” and release “political prisoners.” This action came after he had been dismissed by President Arce for making unauthorized statements to the media. The military chief had threatened Evo Morales, stating that he would capture him if he persisted in his intention to run in the 2025 elections as a presidential candidate.

During the incursion, images circulated worldwide of an armored car forcing open a door to the presidential palace. President Arce confronted Zuniga and ordered him to retreat before swearing in a new military leadership. Zuniga and the soldiers eventually evacuated the Murillo Square, and Zuniga was later arrested and sentenced to six months of preventive detention.

In response to these events, Morales accused Arce of orchestrating a “self-coup” to improve his popularity. Arce denied these allegations, leading to a public dispute between the two political figures. The situation escalated as Morales announced plans for a new congress of his party, MAS, in which he intended to proclaim himself a presidential candidate for the 2025 elections.

The ongoing conflict between Morales and Arce is expected to result in turbulence in Bolivia leading up to the 2025 elections. The decision regarding the MAS candidacy and potential division within the party may further complicate the political landscape. It is predicted that the opposition may have a chance to win if the MAS vote is divided between Morales and Arce, but