The Vice President of Bolivia, Edmand Lara, who declared himself against the government of Rodrigo Paz, expressed support for mobilizations such as those promoted by the Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB). against the abolition of the fuel subsidy and assured that “the tyrants will fall”.
In a video broadcast on TikTok in the last few hours, Lara called on the mobilized sectors “not to give up, not to lower their morale and vigilance.”
“These are difficult times and God knows why things happen.” And in the end the tyrants will fall, and they will fall into the same pit they create,” said the former police officer, who is very active on TikTok.
Lara accused the executive of “siding with the rich” and described the regulation in force for more than a week that eliminated fuel subsidies as a “decree of hunger, unemployment, hopelessness.”
The Vice President called on the mobilized sectors to do soto be “strong” and tell them that “better days are coming.”
“We knew it would not be easy, we knew that the corrupt would resist, but we have opened a door, I am there to defend them, I am there to stand on the side of the people,” Lara said, emphasizing that “the days of the tyrants are numbered.”
The relationship between Paz and Lara has not ceased to be strained since the duo won the second round of voting last October.
This week, the vice president declared himself in “constructive opposition” to the government in various videos on TikTokcalled Paz “corrupt” and also attacked the ministers, calling them “assholes” (sic) for “causing social turmoil” with Decree 5503, which ordered the abolition of fuel subsidies.
In addition, Lara accused the parliamentarians Approve loans in exchange for quotas in government unitsAlthough he did not provide any evidence, the Houses of Representatives and Senators demanded his revocation and threatened to initiate criminal proceedings.
That day, some members of the COB marched again in La Paz against the decree, although in smaller numbers than in previous days.
The mobilization reached the headquarters of the Bolivian Mining Workers Union Federation (Fstmb), where a meeting of leaders is currently taking place to assess the impact of the demonstrations that have been taking place since Monday.
The COB, which was a political ally of the governments of Evo Morales (2006-2019) and Luis Arce (2020-2025), called for an indefinite general strike starting Monday which only miners who work for the state adhere to.
Other sectors such as transport companies, traders and miners operating in the cooperative system stopped their protests after reaching an agreement with the executive. but the COB conditions the dialogue on the repeal of the decree.
Decree 5503 established new prices for fuels. with increases of 86% for gasoline and 162% for diesel compared to the subsidized costs that applied for more than 20 years.
This decision is accompanied by other measures such as increasing the minimum wage, 2,750 to 3,300 Bolivianos ($395 to $474).) and increasing premiums for students in the public system and income for seniors without social security contributions.
The government said that eliminating the subsidy ensured the supply of diesel and gasoline, which had been in short supply for almost a year and a half, and allowed the state to save $10 million a day.
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