Bolivian General Arrested After Breaching Presidential Palace In Alleged Coup Attempt—Here’s What To Know
ForbesJun 20
Bolivia: Army General Arrested After Alleged Failed Coup Attempt
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Above: An armored truck is seen parked at Plaza Murillo on June 26, 2024 in La Paz, Bolivia. Image copyright: Gaston Brito Miserocchi/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Former Bolivia's army chief, Gen. Juan José Zúñiga, was arrested on Wednesday after leading an apparent coup attempt that failed not long after its beginning.
He has been criminally charged with counts of armed uprising against security and state sovereignty, inciting troops, and attacks against the president and state officials, for which he could face 20 years behind bars.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Given the history of likely US-backed coups in Latin America — including in Chile and Argentina — as well as Arce's recent application to join Russia and China's BRICS alliance, it would make sense that the US is potentially behind this. Arce is also critical of Israel and runs a nation rich with lithium, which would give Washington even more of a motive to meddle in Bolivia's affairs.
Pro-establishment narrative
Given Bolivia's unprecedented 23 coup attempts since 1950, historical analysts can safely say this was not some grand conspiracy to overthrow Arce's government. Real coups are conducted in the dark and include the arrest of the president and his cabinet. This was a simple spat between officials in a country run by a weak government and inhabited by an impassioned electorate.
