Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency Saturday, after weeks of mass anti-government protests over rising living costs and economic pressure that have since grown into an escalating political crisis.
Protests, backed by workers unions and farmers, are demanding Paz resign. Road blockades have caused shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies in parts of the country and ground the country’s economy to a halt over the past 50 days, according to Reuters.
“I have arranged for the implementation of the State of Exception to free the country’s roads,” Paz said in an address to the nation. “Bolivians cannot continue to be hostages of blockades…