Bolivian protest leaders threaten mobilization over diesel subsidy removal

Protest leaders in Bolivia have issued an ultimatum to the government of President Rodrigo Paz regarding the removal of diesel subsidies. Following a national meeting, peasant leader Nelson Virreira announced that October could mark “the beginning of the end” for the current administration, warning of a massive national mobilization if demands are not met.

The movement, associated with Evo Morales, demands the immediate repeal of Supreme Decree 5716, which eliminates state subsidies for diesel, and Supreme Decree 5727, which they claim aims to privatize public companies. The group has set a deadline of October 3 for the government to respond; failure to do so will result in a general national mobilization starting October 13.

Economist and former presidential candidate Jaime Dunn commented that while removing fuel subsidies may be necessary to correct economic distortions and reflect true market costs, the financial burden should not fall on the citizens. He argued that the state should assume the cost of this adjustment rather than allowing the impact to be passed on to the population through increased prices for goods and services.