Bolivia President Calls for Dialogue as Nationwide Protests Halt Roads

President Rodrigo Paz urged dialogue with leaders of the Central Obrera Boliviana and the Tupac Katari peasant federation, saying “el diálogo es la forma de solucionar” the crisis that has seen road blockades across eight of Bolivia’s nine regions. He accused former president Evo Morales of financing the protests with money from narcotrafficking and warned citizens “no se dejen usar”. The blockades, which began on 6 May, have cut off food, fuel, medicines and oxygen, causing seven deaths from lack of medical care and three additional fatalities during security operations. The Senate recently approved a bill expanding the armed forces’ powers under a state‑of‑exception framework, now pending the lower house.

During the Corpus Christi celebrations, Bolivia’s Catholic bishops appealed for peace, urging authorities and citizens to prioritize dialogue and reject violence. Their call echoed the president’s appeal for a negotiated solution to the deepening social unrest.