The Bolivian government declared a state of emergency after the national economy was effectively paralyzed by prolonged road blockades by anti-government protesters.
According to Reuters on the 20th local time, President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency in a national address, saying, "We will lift the road blockades that have continued for 50 days and restore social order."
Paz said the move was "not to restrict the freedom of the people, but to free Bolivia from those who exploit political conflict to blockade roads and cause harm, and to return freedom to the people."
The state of emergency takes effect immediately, and the president is authorized to deploy military forces to forcibly reopen major roads. However, under the constitution, the government must notify the legislature within 24 hours, and the legislature decides whether to approve it within 72 hours.
Supporters of former President Evo Morales are currently blocking major arterial roads nationwide. As a result, numerous trucks have been stranded on the roads, and in major cities, including the capital La Paz, supplies of food, fuel, and medicine have been cut off, causing severe shortages.
Paz, who took office in Nov. last year, has pursued market-centered reforms, but his approval rating has plunged amid controversy over a land bill, the abolition of fuel subsidies, and soaring prices. In response, nationwide protests have spread, led by labor groups and low-income communities.