Bolivia coup attempt met with regional, international condemnations
3 Min Read
An attempted coup in Bolivia drew international ire as numerous regional states and beyond have condemned the attack on the country's democracy.
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An armored vehicle and military police form outside the government palace at Plaza Murillo in La Paz, Bolivia, June 26, 2024 (AP)
Leaders from across the world, including Latin America and Europe, have condemned a coup attempt in Bolivia, rallying in support of Bolivian President Luis Arce, triggering a wave of international solidarity in support of the country's legitimate government.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was among the first to voice support for Arce, urging Bolivians to defend their democracy. "We call on the Bolivian people to defend their democracy, their constitution, and their President Luis Arce," Maduro stated on Wednesday. "It's important to defend peace and stability. Bolivia has the support of all of Latin America. The coup must end."
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel echoed Maduro's sentiments, describing the scenes emerging from Bolivia as "outrageous." His remarks underscored the broader regional alarm over the developments in Bolivia.
Leaders from Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Honduras, Iran, and Spain also issued public statements condemning the coup attempt and expressing their support for President Arce.
The people of Bolivia also took to the streets to protest against the attempted coup.
#WATCH | Bolivian citizens confront the coup plotters outside the presidential palace in #LaPaz.pic.twitter.com/ZrwQuL0gFX
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 26, 2024
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for democratic resistance against the coup attempt. "The military coup in Bolivia is absolutely unacceptable. I invite the entire Bolivian people to democratic resistance."
"Latin America should unite in favor of democracy. The Colombian Embassy should provide persecuted people with asylum. There would be no diplomatic ties between Colombia and a dictatorship!" Petro declared on X.
Total rechazo al golpe militar en Bolivia. Invito a todo el pueblo boliviano a la resistencia democrática.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 26, 2024
América Latina debe unirse a favor de la democracia. La embajada de Colombia debe otorgar refugio a los perseguidos.
No habrá ninguna relación diplomática de Colombia con…
The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the coup "against the principles of democracy" in Bolivia, decrying it as an attack on the country's democratic institutions and legitimate government.
The European Union also weighed in on the situation, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemning any efforts to undermine Bolivia's constitutional order.
"The European Union condemns any attempt to undermine the constitutional order in #Bolivia and overthrow democratically elected governments, and expresses its solidarity with the Bolivian government and people," Borrell said on X.
La Unión Europea condena cualquier intento de quebrantar el orden constitucional en #Bolivia y derrocar a gobiernos elegidos democráticamente, y expresa su solidaridad con el gobierno y el pueblo boliviano.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 26, 2024
President Arce denounced the "unauthorized mobilization" of military units and called for respect for democratic processes as soldiers rallied in front of the presidential residence in the country's capital.
Even former Bolivian President Jeanine Anez, who was mentioned in the military's demands for the release of political prisoners, has also condemned the coup attempt.
"I condemn the mobilization of the military at Murillo Square, who intend to destroy the constitutional order. [Political movement] MAS [headed by Bolivian President Luis] Arce and [ex-President Evo] Morales should leave [power] through a vote in 2025. We Bolivians will defend democracy," Anez said on X on Wednesday.
Anez was detained in March 2021 and has been in pre-trial detention since. She is accused of genocide, among other crimes.
Videos shared on social media showed heavily armed soldiers and armored vehicles gathering in La Paz's central Plaza Murillo.
"The three chiefs of the armed forces have come to express our dismay. There will be a new cabinet of ministers, surely things will change, but our country cannot continue like this any longer," General Juan Jose Zuniga told a local TV station.
