Bolivia’s political crisis deepened on Tuesday after Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas stepped down amid weeks of anti-government demonstrations that have placed growing pressure on President Rodrigo Paz.
The resignation marks the highest-profile departure from Paz’s administration since he took office in November, ending nearly two decades of leftist rule in the South American nation.
According to government sources, Ernesto Justiniano, a deputy minister involved in anti-drug trafficking operations, is expected to replace Salinas in the defence portfolio.
The political shake-up did not stop there. Local media also reported that Education Minister Beatriz Garcia submitted her resignation on Tuesday evening, adding to the turmoil facing the government.
The departures come as Bolivia continues to grapple with widespread protests led by labour unions and supporters of former president Evo Morales, who accuse the government of failing to address rising living costs and implementing unpopular austerity measures.
Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Paz announced plans to restructure his cabinet in response to growing public dissatisfaction. Labour Minister Edgar Morales was among the first senior officials to leave, reportedly citing disagreements with the president.
The unrest began in May as a workers’ strike before escalating into large-scale road blockades that disrupted access between the neighbouring cities of La Paz and El Alto, home to around two million residents.
Authorities say the blockades have severely impacted economic activity. El Alto mayor Eliser Roca estimated the city is losing approximately US$6.5 million daily due to disruptions caused by the protests.
“Many families survive day by day. They also have the right to eat,” Roca said while urging demonstrators and government officials to return to the negotiating table.
Last week, President Paz moved closer to declaring a state of emergency, a step that could allow security forces to be deployed on the streets in an effort to restore order.
Protest leaders, however, accused the government of turning its back on the voters who helped bring Paz to power.
Speaking at a protest rally in El Alto where demonstrators burned tyres and demanded the president’s resignation, labour leader Mario Argollo claimed the administration had failed to reconnect with its electoral base.
Despite growing calls for his resignation, senior government officials have dismissed suggestions that Paz will step down.
Minister of the Presidency Jose Luis Lupo recently described demands for the president’s resignation as “anti-democratic” and insisted the government would continue governing.
Paz rose to power on promises to attract greater foreign investment into Bolivia’s mining, hydrocarbons, lithium and energy sectors. However, his administration inherited a difficult economic landscape marked by fuel shortages and declining foreign currency reserves.
In April, the president had already replaced his energy minister as part of efforts to address mounting economic challenges.
With cabinet resignations mounting and protests showing little sign of easing, analysts say Paz is facing one of the most significant tests of his presidency since taking office less than a year ago.
