The Legislative Assembly of Bolivia approved the declaration of a state of emergency decreed by President Rodrigo Paz, granting political and legal support to the measures adopted to clear the roads that had been blocked for weeks in various regions of the country. The decision was approved with more than two-thirds of the votes during an extensive parliamentary session held in the early hours of Sunday.
The resolution ratifies Supreme Decree 5636, signed by Paz on June 20, through which the Government declared a state of emergency due to internal turmoil to address the crisis generated by the blockades by supporters of Evo Morales, which had caused serious supply problems for food, fuel, and medicines in several Bolivian cities.
The parliamentary approval represents a significant political victory for the president. For weeks, the blockades by supporters of former dictator Evo Morales had brought the country to the brink of a humanitarian and economic crisis, affecting the operation of hospitals, schools, industries, and transportation systems.
The state of emergency allows for broader participation of the Armed Forces in support tasks for the Police to ensure free movement and protect strategic infrastructures. Additionally, it establishes extraordinary mechanisms to clear routes and restore essential services in the areas most affected by the protests.
