The historic Presidential Palace of Bolivia, known as the Palacio Quemado or Burnt Palace, has been a witness to numerous coup attempts and uprisings throughout its history. Most recently, rebel soldiers stormed the palace under the leadership of dismissed Army chief Juan José Zúñiga, prompting President Luis Arce to call on the people to resist any coup attempts and appoint a new military leadership to diffuse the situation.
Bolivia holds the unfortunate record of experiencing the most coups d’état in the world since 1950, with 23 attempted and 12 successful ones. The country’s tumultuous history includes periods of military dictatorships and political instability, culminating in the election of Evo Morales, who held power for over a decade until a crisis erupted in 2019. The subsequent events led to Morales fleeing the country amid allegations of a coup.
Despite the recent turmoil, Bolivia has maintained a fragile but continuous democracy since 1982, resolving crises through institutional channels rather than military intervention. The country’s active and politicized society, combined with a weakened state, has prevented the establishment of a repressive regime, ensuring a peaceful transition of power through democratic means.
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