Juan José Zúñiga, who commanded the South American country’s army, was detained in La Paz in front of television cameras on Wednesday night, capping a dramatic few hours in which armed soldiers attempted to storm the national palace.
Arce, a onetime protégé of former leftist leader Evo Morales, called on Bolivians to “mobilise against the coup plotters”. He then replaced Zúñiga with an army commander who called on the soldiers to stand down. Zúñiga also demanded the release of several jailed politicians, including two opposition leaders: former president Jeanine Áñez — who briefly led Bolivia from 2019 to 2020 — and Luis Fernando Camacho, a former provincial governor.
Zúñiga this week said Morales — who initially claimed victory in a disputed presidential election in 2019 but later resigned — should not be allowed to run again for president.Tensions have been rising in Bolivia in recent weeks as Arce and Morales — formerly allies from the ruling Movement Towards Socialism party — have been engaged in a caustic split.
Morales, a former coca farmer who led the country from 2006 to 2019, has said he will run against Arce in next year’s presidential election. His term was marked by democratic backsliding as he championed indigenous rights.