The president of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, has harshly criticized this Saturday the protests announced by sectors aligned with former president Evo Morales, scheduled for next Tuesday, stating that they seek to reactivate the "logic of armed confrontations, stone-throwing, and blockades."
During a public event held in San Borja, in the department of Beni, on the occasion of Democracy Day in Bolivia, Paz has warned about this type of mobilization, which he said seeks to "recover confrontation practices" that "have marked stages" in the recent history of the country.
"And today some who want to recover the old logic of shooting at each other, stone-throwing, and blockades, want to recover that distance that had been generated as an institution in Bolivia due to the lack of democracy," the Bolivian leader pointed out, referring to the risks of returning to scenarios of political violence.
The 'Evo' sectors, followers of former president Evo Morales, have called for a series of mobilizations since October 13, including a march to the capital, La Paz, after the deadline given to the Government to reverse the economic measures applied in recent months following the blockades expired.
Among their main demands are the restoration of the diesel subsidy and the repeal of several decrees related to public companies, initiatives with which they aim to channel the accumulated social discontent.
In the face of this climate of growing tension, Paz has defended that the only legitimate way to channel differences is the institutional one, appealing to dialogue and consensus as basic tools of the democratic system.
"Democracy allows us to come closer, not to shoot at each other, nor to throw stones, nor to create a series of spaces or distances, as I say, but rather encounters, consensuses, dialogues," the president clarified, insisting that understanding among Bolivians must prevail over actions that, in his words, deepen polarization.