Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz put two proposals on the table on Wednesday to soothe the country after weeks of protests and road blockades. He announced ministerial changes “to get closer to the people” and proposed forming a Social Economic Council that would include the mobilized actors and serve as a negotiating bridge between the state, productive sectors, and social movements. Hours earlier, his government told the Organization of American States (OAS) that the protests besieging La Paz, the city that hosts the seat of government, aim to “generate institutional destabilization.” Paz received shows of support. The strongest came from Washington, which warned it would not remain indifferent if street violence escalates. “We will not allow criminals and drug traffickers to overthrow democratically elected leaders in our hemisphere,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X on Wednesday.

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The protests in Bolivia against the government of Rodrigo Paz — which began with a series of strikes earlier this month and have erupted into a nationwide movement, particularly in La Paz, the seat of government — represent an attempt at a “coup d’état.” That was the unequivocal statement made on Tuesday by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Landau, after revealing that he had just spoken by phone with Bolivia’s conservative president.

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Bolivian Judge Carlos Oblitas declared former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) in contempt of court on Monday for failing to appear before the Tarija court where he is being tried for human trafficking, specifically for allegedly impregnating a 15-year-old girl while he was president. The court order includes an arrest warrant and a travel ban, as reported to the press by Supreme Court Justice Grover Mita. Morales’ legal team had already announced last week that their client would not appear, considering the case a “political persecution” and alleging irregularities in the criminal proceedings.

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