Indigenous protesters and supporters of former president Evo Morales are demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira through national strikes and blockades.

These demonstrations signal a deepening crisis of legitimacy for the current administration. The unrest reflects a sharp divide between the government's economic policies and the needs of rural and working-class populations.

The protests have lasted about a month [4] throughout May 2026, with major actions concentrated in La Paz, El Alto, and Cochabamba [1, 2, 3]. Demonstrators have blocked roads for nearly two weeks [3] to disrupt commerce and pressure the government. An indefinite national strike was announced for May 1, 2026 [5].

The unrest is driven by austerity measures imposed since November 2025 [1, 3], the month Rodrigo Paz took office [1]. These policies have reportedly driven up poverty levels among the country's most vulnerable citizens [1, 3].

President Paz has been in office for six months as of May 2026 [2]. While some reports characterize the movement as Indigenous-led anti-austerity protests, others identify the marches as being driven by supporters of the former leftist president Evo Morales [1, 2].

The blockades and strikes have created significant logistical hurdles in the highlands and valley regions. Protesters said the economic hardship caused by the current administration is unsustainable, leading to the calls for a change in leadership.

“Indigenous protesters and supporters of former president Evo Morales are demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira”

The current volatility in Bolivia underscores a recurring pattern of social unrest triggered by economic contraction and austerity. By aligning Indigenous rights movements with the political machinery of Evo Morales, the opposition is leveraging a broad social coalition to challenge the six-month-old administration of Rodrigo Paz. The ability of the government to either pivot its economic strategy or maintain order will determine if the country faces a full-scale constitutional crisis.