General Juan José Zúñiga of Bolivia recently alleged that the supposed coup attempt last week was orchestrated by President Luis Arce himself. Zúñiga claimed that Arce wanted to boost his popularity by portraying himself as a defender of democracy. However, President Arce and his associates deny these accusations, insisting that they were deceived.
The incident involved 200 soldiers led by Zúñiga surrounding the government palace in La Paz. Despite no shots being fired or clashes occurring, Zúñiga and 21 others were arrested on charges of terrorism and armed rebellion, potentially facing up to 20 years in prison. Amidst transferring to another prison, Zúñiga proclaimed that the truth would eventually surface.
President Arce vehemently refutes Zúñiga’s claim of staging a coup for political gain, asserting that the general genuinely aimed to overthrow the government. This controversy has led to calls for a commission of inquiry to investigate the validity of Zúñiga’s allegations, as skepticism arises due to his previous ties to the government and the lack of violence during the coup attempt.