Members of the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) marching through the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Photo: EFE/Martin Alipaz.
An indefinite general strike called by the Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB) has now entered its second week. The strike has been in response to Supreme Decree 5503, a law condemned by unions and peasant organizations for being part of an “IMF-imposed adjustment” that is deteriorating the standard of living of the working population. Miners have been at the forefront of these protests.
Since last Monday, December 22, thousands of miners have been marching on La Paz. Wearing helmets and carrying tools, they have set up roadblocks and blockades around Plaza Murillo, the central square of the national government. The police have responded with repression, tear gas, and barricades, leading to hours of clashes and the arrival of reinforcements from other union sectors, including teachers, factory workers, and neighborhood committees.
The mobilizations also reached Cochabamba, El Alto, and several strategic road corridors. Road blockades have been reported.
#ENVIDEO📹 | Diversas organizaciones sociales y sindicales, afiliadas a la Central Obrera Boliviana #COB 🇧🇴, marcharon por sexto día en rechazo al Decreto Supremo 5503 del Gobierno de Rodrigo Paz pic.twitter.com/QnrUTA0XhX
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 28, 2025
Despite the protests, President Rodrigo Paz defends the decree as a “necessary measure” to eliminate fuel subsidies, which would result in an 86% increase in the price of gasoline and a 160% increase in the price of diesel.
Social organizations condemn the adjustment for including the elimination of taxes on large capital, the opening to foreign investments through a 30-day automatic approval mechanism, and a legal regime that guarantees 15 years of protection to transnational companies, particularly in the mining and energy sectors.
According to unions and critical economists, the decree was enacted after meetings with delegations from the DFC, EXIM Bank, USTDA, and the US State Department, fueling accusations of alignment with external interests over Bolivia’s strategic resources.
The COB reaffirmed at a Christmas plenary session that it will not lift the strike while the decree remains in effect. The leadership argues that the movement must be sustained through factory assemblies, struggle committees, and territorial coordination, in a scenario reminiscent of the historical Bolivian labor movement.
The government is attempting to counter the popular pressure through negotiations with transport workers, mining cooperatives, and sectors of the middle class, in addition to political and mainstream media campaigns against the protesters.
Meanwhile, a subnational electoral process scheduled for March 2026 is underway, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal is evaluating the annulment of the legal status of the Morena party, led by the mayor of El Alto, Eva Copa, amid internal fragmentation within the MAS party.
This conflict is not only about the gas price hike but also about Bolivia’s economic model, the control of natural resources, and the framework of state regulatory sovereignty. For labor unions, the struggle will determine whether Bolivia enters a cycle of accelerated privatization of lithium, rare earth elements, and public companies. For the government, it represents a test of strength to maintain its economic program.
The miners, once again at the forefront of Bolivian history, are not backing down. Now, the entire country is watching to see if this latest social conflict will be resolved through dialogue, in the streets, or in a larger crisis.
(Telesur)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/AU/SF
