Morales urges Arce for cabinet changes amid unrest

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales called on Luis Arce's government for urgent changes amid growing discontent to prevent civil unrest in the Andean country.

Morales, an influential figure in Bolivia's political landscape, warned that the protests would be prolonged if Arce did not change his cabinet and approve a bill authorizing an international loan.

Morales and his supporters, miners, peasants, workers, and Indigenous people have marched to La Paz to pressure the incumbent President, Luis Arce, over the stalled economy.

According to the former Bolivian leader, the march aims to "save Bolivia" from fuel and dollar shortages and rising prices of essential goods.

Tensions between Morales and Arce have been growing since late 2021 due to divergent views on state administration and the need to refresh the Movement to Socialism party's national leadership.

Tensions rose as former President Evo Morales spoke to a large crowd and demanded that the government make cabinet changes “within 24 hours”, or face the wrath of thousands of protesters who he has led in a week-long march.

Bolivia’s foreign ministry rejected the ultimatum by Morales, saying in a statement that the ex-president had threatened the country’s “democratic order”.

Anti-government protesters have clashed with supporters of President Luis Arce in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, as fears grow of further unrest in the Andean nation mired in an economic crisis ahead of next year’s presidential election.

Riot police and supporters of Arce gathered to defend the government in the Plaza Murrillo, the central square in La Paz where the main presidential and legislative offices are located, raising fears of a major confrontation.

Protesters on each side have hurled firecrackers, homemade explosives and stones at each other, and riot police have fired tear gas into the crowds.

Clashes between supporters of Morales and Arce have left 34 people injured, according to the authorities.