Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz halves salary as protests intensify

President Rodrigo Paz announced a 50% cut to his own salary and to those of his cabinet members, framing the move as a gesture of solidarity amid weeks of anti‑government protests. He also unveiled a broad tax amnesty for transporters, independent workers and artisans, and called for dialogue while warning that those who refuse to negotiate will face constitutional consequences.

The protests, led by trade unions, indigenous groups and workers, demand higher wages, stable fuel supplies and the president’s resignation. Road blockades around La Paz and El Alto have caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine, and clashes with police have resulted in tear‑gas use, chemical agents, four deaths and over a hundred arrests. Despite Paz’s earlier attempts to reshuffle his government and engage labour groups, the unrest continues, reflecting deep economic discontent and a political crisis that began six months after he took office, ending Evo Morales’ two‑decade rule.