The failed coup attempt in La Paz saw the withdrawal of military forces from the government palace, following widespread protests and the appointment of new military chiefs. Supporters of President Luis Arce gathered at Murillo Square to celebrate the retreat of the coup plotters.
![Bolivia coup plotters retreat, leader arrested 1 Bolivian President Luis Arce raises a clenched fist surrounded by supporters and media, outside the government palace in La Paz, Bolivia, June 26, 2024 (AP)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/6/26/a45d2212-2439-4065-ae69-47ed8e16923d.jpg?width=1000)
President Arce, alongside Vice President David Choquehuanca, addressed the crowd from the balcony of the presidential palace, denouncing the coup attempt and reaffirming the commitment to democracy. Videos circulating on social media showed armed soldiers and armored vehicles converging at Plaza Murillo, the heart of Bolivia’s capital.
The Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office initiated criminal investigations against the coup plotters, led by former Commander-in-Chief Juan Jose Zuniga. International leaders, including Nicolas Maduro and Miguel Diaz-Canel, expressed solidarity with President Arce and condemned the coup attempt, underscoring the global support for Bolivia’s legitimate government.