Bolivia President Rodrigo Paz Holds Talks with COB to End Nationwide Protests

President Rodrigo Paz Pereira met with the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) at the Banco Central in La Paz, beginning a formal dialogue aimed at ending more than 48 days of road blockades and street protests that have disrupted food, fuel and medical supplies across Bolivia. The protests, led by the COB and the Túpac Katari peasant federation, demand Paz’s resignation and a set of five conditions that include a fuel‑quality commission, a six‑month freeze on interest and penalties, the repeal of several Supreme Decrees, a presidential amnesty, and the annulment of Law 1740 governing states of emergency.

The government responded to the Túpac Katari demands with a note promising guarantees for a “franco, pleno y democrático” meeting, rejecting any privatisation of strategic state firms and pledging to respect due process and union immunity. The talks also addressed the release of detained protesters; a mixed legal commission was created to review their cases. The crisis has resulted in at least 16 deaths, widespread shortages and an estimated economic loss of US$2.76 billion.

In a separate meeting with miners at Huanuni, Paz reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen state‑run mining through Comibol and ruled out any privatisation, underscoring the administration’s broader agenda of state‑led development amid the unrest.