Opposition maintains pressure on Bolivian government, seeks to repeal law enacted 3 days ago

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Opposition groups in Bolivia continue to exert pressure on the government of Luis Arce, who has agreed to the repeal of a controversial law to stop a 9-day strike, and now faces new demands to repeal yet another recently enacted statute – Law 1407, also called ‘Plan de Desarrollo Económico y Social (PDES) de Bolivia 2021-2025’ (Economic and Social Development Plan of Bolivia 2021-2025).

On Thursday, the Citizen Community (CC) alliance presented before the Plurinational Assembly a bill that seeks to repeal the law, arguing that the Arce administration intends to “concentrate more power in the Executive branch” and “destroy the autonomy” of the several departments.

Furthermore, they argue that this “cursed law” affects the people.

“This economic and social development plan is a centralist and top-down imposition of the national government on institutions that enjoy independence and autonomy,” CC party leader Carlos Alarcón said.

According to the legislator, the law passed by Parliament and enacted on Monday affects the judicial and electoral bodies, as well as the governors’ offices, municipalities and universities.

On Wednesday, Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee chairman Rómulo Calvo announced the suspension of the indefinite strike established after Arce’s government signed the repeal of the Bolivian Government’s illegal profits law, which was criticized by opposition sectors and several unions, although he warned that “the fight must continue.”

Calvo, now accused of sedition, has 35 judicial proceedings against him, several of them related to corruption.

After a week of strike and protests in several regions of the country, the ruling Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) administration decided to back down on the measure that had caused “anxiety and uncertainty,” Arce said, warning that it was being promoted by “sectors with other interests.”

In fact, the ruling party maintains that everything is part of a new coup attempt, through actions that seek to repeat the scenario of tension prior to the overthrow of Evo Morales in 2019.

Activist and political analyst Fernando Mendez Terrazas said that the opposition sectors “are not going to allow any type of debate that will lead to the truth and to know the essential aspects (of the law).”

“If they believe that it goes against autonomies, they can file an injunction on the unconstitutionality of the norm and that’s it. There is no need to generate further debate on the matter,” he said.

“It is possible to head towards a democratic, legislative solution, but they are not interested in that,” he said, adding that instead, they seek “to create conflict to restore the powers that have ruled de facto since 2019.”