Bolivia’s government palace in La Paz came under direct assault Thursday as hundreds of miners, armed with dynamite and Molotov cocktails, stormed the perimeter in a coordinated attempt to breach the presidential compound. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, while security forces deployed riot gear to block the protesters from reaching the building, where President Luis Arce was reportedly inside. The clashes marked the most violent escalation yet in a second week of nationwide protests that have paralyzed the country, with demonstrators demanding sweeping economic reforms and an end to what they call “corruption and impunity” under Arce’s administration.
The miners, who had traveled from the highland regions of Potosí and Oruro—two of Bolivia’s most volatile mining hubs—began their advance early Thursday morning, setting off small dynamite charges to clear police barricades. Witnesses described a scene of controlled chaos, with security forces using batons and stun grenades to repel the protesters while avoiding live ammunition. By midday, at least 17 people had been hospitalized, including five police officers suffering from inhaling tear gas, according to the country’s public health ministry. The miners, many of whom wore helmets and carried pickaxes, chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Arce and the immediate dissolution of the National Assembly, which they accuse of enabling graft.
The government, which has struggled to contain the unrest, condemned the attack as an “act of terrorism” in a statement released by the presidency. “These are not peaceful protesters—they are violent extremists seeking to destabilize the state,” said Vice President David Choquehuanca, who has been leading negotiations with opposition groups. The statement added that the government would not negotiate under duress, but would instead “protect the constitutional order.” Meanwhile, the miners’ federation, the Federación Sindical de Trabajadores Mineros de Bolivia (FSTMB), denied accusations of violence, framing their actions as a legitimate response to government inaction. “We have been patient for months, but the government refuses to listen,” said FSTMB leader Juan Carlos Huarachi in a phone interview with local media. “If they won’t negotiate, we will take the fight to them.”
Background to the crisis traces back to late April, when the government announced a series of austerity measures aimed at stabilizing Bolivia’s economy, which has been battered by inflation and a sharp decline in foreign investment. The measures, which included cuts to fuel subsidies and a freeze on public sector hiring, triggered mass protests across the country. In the first week of unrest, at least 23 people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in the eastern city of Santa Cruz, where separatist sentiment has simmered for years. The government has since deployed thousands of additional troops to high-risk areas, including La Paz and El Alto, but the deployment has done little to quell the unrest.
International observers have expressed growing concern over the situation. The Organization of American States (OAS) issued a statement Thursday calling for “restraint and dialogue” between the government and protesters, while the European Union urged Bolivia to “avoid further escalation.” The United States, which has historically maintained a cautious approach to Bolivia’s internal affairs, released a statement through the State Department saying it was “monitoring developments closely” and urging all parties to “prioritize peaceful resolution.” The government, however, has dismissed foreign interference, with Foreign Minister Roger Eduardo Pinto telling reporters, “Bolivia’s sovereignty is not up for debate. We will handle this crisis in our own way.”
As night fell in La Paz, the miners retreated from the palace grounds but vowed to return Friday with reinforcements. Meanwhile, the government announced it would convene an emergency session of the National Assembly on Friday to discuss “measures to restore order,” though it remains unclear whether the assembly will have the authority—or the will—to implement any meaningful concessions. In the streets, tensions simmered, with reports of looting and arson in working-class neighborhoods near the city center. The military, which has historically stayed out of domestic politics, has yet to be deployed, but its presence in the capital has been visibly increased in recent days.
With no clear end in sight, the standoff in La Paz has exposed deep divisions within Bolivia’s political class. Opposition leaders, including former president Jeanine Áñez, who was ousted in a 2019 coup, have called for mass protests next week, while hardline factions within the miners’ movement have threatened to escalate their tactics. The government, for its part, has shown little willingness to back down, with Arce’s spokesman reiterating that the president would not “negotiate with those who seek to overthrow the state.” The question now is whether the violence will spiral further—or whether a fragile compromise can still be reached before the country descends into outright conflict.
