Bolivia Unrest: Violent Clashes Between Protesters and Police In Capital City | WION

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]Bolivia is witnessing violent clashes between protesters and the police.

[00:00:04]Anti-government anger has intensified due to a cost of living crisis.

[00:00:09]Just 6 months after Rodrigo Paz took office as president, protesters are seeking his ouster. Take a look at our next report.

[00:00:49]Weeks-long protests have escalated in recent days. The streets of Bolivian capital La Paz are filled with angry demonstrators. Roadblocks, barricades, tear gas, smoke, and small-scale explosions.

[00:01:00]Well, in the latest, the protesters tried to push through security barricades protecting government buildings.

[00:01:07]Security officials tried to push the protesters back by firing several canisters of tear gas.

[00:01:14]The demonstrators could be seen kicking the tear gas canisters away as thick smoke engulfed the city's skyline.

[00:01:20]The protests are being led by farmers, miners, and teachers, among others.

[00:01:25]The Bolivian president's decision to end fuel subsidies triggered these demonstrations.

[00:01:30]Bolivian miners are now demanding greater access to fuel and to explosives. They've also called for revisions to their contracts and the implementation of mining regulations.

[00:01:58]President Paz should govern, not pit us against one another as brothers. Our brothers are here, even my son is back there facing off against me. That is not what we indigenous peoples want. That is why we are telling our brother, the president, we have given you power, but you have not been able to govern.

[00:02:20]Bolivia's public prosecutor has issued an arrest warrant for the leader of the country's largest union accusing him of terrorism and inciting crime.

[00:02:33]A warrant for the arrest has already been issued based on police and intelligence report requests and the complaint filed by the Ministry of Government against Mr. Argollo, union leader Mario Argollo, and another person so that [clears throat] the arrest can be executed at the appropriate time under the sole jurisdiction of the Bolivian police.

[00:02:57]Bolivia's former president Evo Morales has publicly backed the protesters. His supporters have arrived in La Paz after marching for 7 days.

[00:03:06]The current government has said that political operators are seeking to bring Morales back into power.

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