Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced on Wednesday an upcoming reshuffle of his government as Bolivia has been rocked for several weeks by protests against austerity measures and the deteriorating economic situation.
"We are going to reorganize the government," Paz said at a press conference, without specifying the timing or extent of the ministerial changes.
The country has been experiencing rising social tensions since the beginning of May. The protests, initially limited to strikes, have spread nationwide with the participation of unions, miners, transport workers, and rural groups. Demonstrators are denouncing the rising cost of living and demanding more economic aid, with some even calling for the president's resignation.
In this context, the Bolivian government also expelled Colombian ambassador Elizabeth Garcia, accusing Bogotá of interfering in the country's internal affairs.
The decision comes after statements by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who described the unrest in Bolivia as a "popular uprising" and proposed dialogue and mediation.
The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that these comments infringed upon national sovereignty. Petro responded by stating that the diplomatic expulsion demonstrated a drift towards "extremism."
The United States and the European Union have called on the various parties to prioritize dialogue in order to avoid an escalation of the political and social crisis in this South American country.
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