Key facts
- Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency on Saturday.
- The declaration allows for military deployment to clear road blockades.
- Protests over fuel subsidy cuts have lasted 50 days.
- A deal was struck with the Bolivian Workers' Confederation (COB) on Friday.
- Road blockades have caused shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
- At least 14 deaths have been attributed to the blockades.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency early Saturday, enabling wider military deployment to clear blockades and restore order amid protests that have paralyzed the country for 50 days. Paz stated that anti-government blockades had become an organized attempt to destabilize Bolivia's democracy, not merely a social protest. The measure aims to protect citizens and ensure the flow of essential goods, with those continuing disruptions facing legal consequences. The protests, initially over cuts to fuel subsidies, have led to shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, and at least 14 deaths. A deal was struck with the main union, the Bolivian Workers' Confederation (COB), on Friday, but rural groups aligned with former President Evo Morales, who were not part of the negotiations, continue to demonstrate. The conflict erupted after Paz abruptly cut longstanding fuel subsidies to shrink the deficit amid a worsening dollar crunch and talks with the International Monetary Fund. Unions are demanding wage increases, an end to fuel and dollar shortages, and Paz's resignation. Paz has blamed Morales for stoking the unrest, while Morales denied any role, stating the "indigenous rebellion" was driven by economic hardship. Congress cleared a path for the declaration by repealing a law that had set limits on the executive branch's use of emergency orders.