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Bolivia transport unions declare strike after diesel subsidy removal
Bolivia is facing significant social unrest following the government's decision to end diesel subsidies via Decree 5716. The price of diesel has increased from 9.80 to 17.95 bolivianos per liter, an approximately 83% rise. President Rodrigo Paz defended the move as a necessary step for economic reordering and to contain an annual expenditure of nearly 2.6 billion dollars, noting that the measure has already helped reduce fuel shortages and queues at stations.
In response, the Confederación Sindical de Choferes de Bolivia has declared a 24-hour national transport strike for Monday, September 28, affecting passenger and cargo services across the country. While the Ministry of the Presidency claims that 80.3% of public transport vehicles will not be directly affected because they do not run exclusively on diesel, various sectors report immediate economic impacts. In Cochabamba, water delivery costs via tanker trucks have risen significantly, and in El Alto, vegetable prices have spiked due to increased freight costs.
Local responses vary across cities. In Potosí and Sucre, authorities have implemented temporary fare adjustments for public transport to manage costs while technical studies are conducted. Meanwhile, in Santa Cruz, the government has launched a program to convert 400 diesel minibuses to natural gas (GNV) to mitigate the impact on drivers.
Entities
Bolivia · Bolivian government · Brazil · Confederación Nacional de Choferes de Bolivia · Confederación Sindical de Choferes de Bolivia · International Monetary Fund · Johnny Torres · Ministry of the Presidency · Otto Ritter · Rodrigo Paz · Santa Cruz · YPFB
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Transport unions have declared a 24-hour national strike for next Monday in protest against Decree 5716. elandaluz.com.bo
- [● 5 SOURCES] The government maintains that eliminating the diesel subsidy is unsustainable for the national treasury. www.bolivia.com · alertabolivia.net · www.elaltoesnoticia.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of the Presidency stated that 80.3% of public transport vehicles will not be directly affected by the diesel subsidy removal. www.bolivia.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Mayor of Tarija announced that public transport fares remain frozen despite the fuel price increase. asuntoscentrales.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The new diesel price has been set at 17.95 bolivianos per liter. www.bolivia.com · elandaluz.com.bo · lavozbolivia.com · asuntoscentrales.com · alertabolivia.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Decree 5716 ended the fixed subsidized diesel price of 9.80 bolivianos per liter. www.bolivia.com · asuntoscentrales.com · alertabolivia.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] The removal of the subsidy aims to contain an annual expenditure of nearly 2.6 billion dollars. www.bolivia.com · alertabolivia.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] The government has launched a program to convert 400 diesel minibuses to natural gas in Santa Cruz. ahoradigital.net