LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia President Luis Arce on Thursday denied being behind an attempted coup against him and said the general who apparently led it “acted on his own,' lashing out at accusations that he had asked for the mutiny in a plan to b
LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivia President Luis Arce on Thursday denied being behind an attempted coup against him and said the general who apparently led it “acted on his own," lashing out at accusations that he had asked for the mutiny in a plan to boost his popularity.
The South American nation of 12 million watched in shock and bewilderment Wednesday as military forces appeared to turn on the government of President Luis Arce, seizing control of the capital’s main square with armored vehicles, repeatedly crashing a small tank into the presidential palace and unleashing tear gas on protesters.
Analysts say the eruption of public support for Arce, even if fleeting, provides him with a reprieve from the country’s economic quagmire and political turmoil. The president is locked in a deepening rivalry with popular former President Evo Morales, his erstwhile ally who has threatened to challenge Arce in 2025.
Lawmakers and former officials, particularly those allied with Morales, echoed the allegations. “This has been a setup,” said Carlos Romero, a former official in the Morales government. “Zúñiga followed the script as he was ordered." Morales has vowed to run against Arce in 2025, a prospect that has rattled Arce, whose popularity has plunged as the country’s foreign currency reserves dwindle, its natural gas exports plummet and its currency peg to the U.S. dollar collapses.
The country’s fragmented opposition rejected the coup even before it was clear it had failed. Former interim President Jeanine Áñez, detained for her role in Morales’ 2019 ouster, said that soldiers sought to “destroy the constitutional order," but appealed to both Arce and Morales not to run in the 2025 elections.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bolivia's president denies being behind attempted coup and says the general acted 'on his own'LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia President Luis Arce on Thursday denied being behind an attempted coup against him, and said that the general who apparently led it “acted on his own.
Read more »
Bolivia's president denies being behind attempted coup and says the general acted 'on his own'LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia President Luis Arce on Thursday denied being behind an attempted coup against him, and said that the general who apparently led it “acted on his own.
Read more »
Bolivia's president denies being behind attempted coup and says the general acted 'on his own'LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia President Luis Arce on Thursday denied being behind an attempted coup against him, and said that the general who apparently led it “acted on his own.
Read more »
Bolivia's president calls claims he was behind attempted coup 'lies' as his supporters rallyBolivian President Luis Arce on Thursday angrily called accusations that he was behind an attempted coup against his government 'lies,' saying the general who apparently led it acted on his own and vowing that he would face justice.
Read more »
Coup attempt in Bolivia fails as president urges people to mobilize against democracy threatLA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Armored vehicles rammed the doors of Bolivia’s government palace Wednesday in an apparent coup attempt against President Luis Arce, but he vowed to stand firm and named a new army commander who ordered troops to stand down.
Read more »
Coup attempt in Bolivia fails as president urges people to mobilize against democracy threatLA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Armored vehicles rammed the doors of Bolivia’s government palace Wednesday in an apparent coup attempt against President Luis Arce, but he vowed to stand firm and named a new army commander who ordered troops to stand down.
Read more »