A Military Coup in Bolivia Fails
Last week saw a failed military coup attempt against the left-wing government of Bolivian president Luis Arce.
Last Wednesday 26 June saw a failed military coup against the left-wing government of Bolivian president Luis Arce. The coup attempt was led by Army General Juan Jose Zuniga who was arrested, hours after he led troops and tanks to storm the presidential palace in Bolivia's capital, La Paz.
Bolivian president Luis Arce raises a clenched fist surrounded by supporters and media, outside the government palace in La Paz. Credit: Juan Karita/AP
This Al Jazeera English article provides a good account of what seems to have taken place, including some important context. The X (Twitter) accounts of Kawsachun News, Progressive International and Wiphalas across the World, also have a lot of useful information. Divisions between former president Evo Morales and current president Arce, both from the same Movement to Socialism (MAS) party, have also come to the fore in relation to last week's events (to read a recent article about these tensions by Alborada contributing editor Olivia Arigho-Stiles, click here.
I have interviewed President Luis Arce twice, first in 2021 for independent US and UK media outlets MintPress News and The Canary - see videos below.
And most recently in March 2022 for independent UK media outlet Double Down News (DDN) - see below. You can read an article about the MintPress News interview here.
DDN also interviewed me shortly after a November 2019 military coup against then left-wing president Evo Morales.
I wrote about that coup for an article entitled 'The Latin American Left is Ready for 2022' published in late 2021 by independent UK media outlet Novara Media - you can read the piece here.
On Monday 8 July I will chair an event in London where we will discuss the failed coup attempt in Bolivia - more info here.
In mid-August I will be chairing two panels on Bolivian political developments at the El Sueño Existe (The Dream Lives On) festival in Wales - more info here.