National Emergency Amid Total Crisis | Emergencia nacional ante una crisis total

Editorial, El Diario:

The Bolivian people are not only victims of a severe economic crisis—caused by the lack of U.S. dollars for essential imports, the abrupt rise in food prices, agricultural product shortages, inflation, and a wave of protests and strikes by trade organizations—but also face an alarming increase in traffic accidents on the country’s roads and highways. Adding to this volatile situation is a political crisis with no apparent resolution, exacerbated by conflicts within political parties.

As if that weren’t enough, corporate guild protests, worker strikes, transport blockades at local and national levels, mass gatherings in various capitals, and mobilizations by business organizations are proliferating. These calamities are further compounded by gasoline and diesel shortages, which have ripple effects such as transport workers refusing to deliver food from rural areas to the cities, triggering an endless chain of economic and social consequences.

The crisis is widespread—the country is on the brink of biblical plagues, with no solutions or hope in sight. Some may believe that the general elections in August will put an end to the dramatic situation in the Plurinational State, but they are likely mistaken, as the incoming government will inherit an almost insurmountable crisis.

Misfortunes do not come alone but in clusters. To the aforementioned disasters, we must add the climate crisis, which has brought droughts, heavy rains, floods, landslides, hailstorms, frosts, and other extreme weather events, as reported daily by the media.

These hardships are deeply felt by the people, who say, “When it rains, it pours”—a phrase that aptly describes the dire state of the Plurinational State created by the MAS government.

But it seems this general crisis is only beginning. Farmers in the valleys and highlands report that relentless rains have flooded their fields, causing potato and other crops to rot. They warn that only a small portion of the harvest can be salvaged to make chuño, foreshadowing bleak days ahead. The national government must start addressing this situation urgently.

In summary, the Plurinational State is facing political, economic, moral, ecological, and social crises. Given this catastrophe, declaring a total state of emergency is imperative.

We have been falling until we hit rock bottom

Finally, the sword of Damocles of a sudden political shift hangs over President Luis Arce’s head.

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