20/06/2026 18:21 - Internacionales
Soldados y policías bolivianos retirando barricadas de una carretera con maquinaria pesada mientras civiles observan en una zona montañosa.
Bolivia begins its return to normalcy after 51 days of protests that paralyzed this South American nation. On Saturday, June 20, 2026, President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency, authorizing the Armed Forces to support the National Police in clearing roadblocks—a measure that is already showing results.
Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America, home to approximately 12 million people. La Paz, sitting at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) above sea level, is the administrative capital and highest capital city in the world. El Alto, adjacent to La Paz, is Bolivia's second-largest city. Cochabamba is the country's third-largest city, located in central Bolivia.
According to the Bolivian Highway Administrator (ABC), active blockades decreased from 47 on Friday, June 19 to 40 early Saturday morning, and further down to 34 by 3:30 PM local time. The cities of La Paz and El Alto began seeing markets reopen and vehicle traffic increase.
In Cochabamba, cleanup and unblocking operations began at strategic points including Parotani, Epizana, Pojo, and routes to Valle Alto, using heavy machinery and emergency personnel. Garbage containers that had been overflowing for days were finally emptied by municipal crews during the early morning hours.
The Plurinational Legislative Assembly (Bolivia's bicameral congress, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate) called for a session on Saturday night with mandatory in-person attendance to consider approving the presidential decree. The convocation document cites the "extreme gravity of the national situation and the exceptional nature of the measure."
Protesters had demanded President Paz's resignation. The state of emergency, declared for 90 days, aims to end the nationwide blockades. The decree stipulates that the Armed Forces may support the Police to restore order.
Mauricio Zamora, Minister of Public Works, identified the Chapare region as the next target for security forces—a coca-growing area where former President Evo Morales is believed to be located.
"In the Chapare there are good people, so we need to remove the rotten apple and move forward. Development happens where there are no blockades," Zamora declared, adding that "that rotten apple has pending accounts with the law."
Evo Morales (born 1959) served as President of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, becoming the country's first Indigenous president. He resigned in November 2019 following controversial elections and widespread protests. In the current crisis, he has been declared a fugitive from justice with an arrest warrant for human trafficking and people smuggling charges related to an alleged relationship with a minor during his presidency—a charge he denies. (Source: Previous reporting by Infobae, Europa Press)
Marco Antonio Oviedo, Minister of Government (the interior ministry), highlighted the "relief" and "citizen support" for the unblocking operations. He reported that police are advancing toward the city of Oruro without incidents.
Oruro is a department in western Bolivia, known for its mining industry and famous carnival celebrations.
The state of emergency empowers the Armed Forces to act in support of the National Police to guarantee free transit on the country's highways—an unprecedented situation in Bolivia's recent history.
Sources: Infobae, Europa Press
Alfredo S. Quiroga
