Bolivian Coup (2024 Edition) - Government's coup against itself?

[Quintillus]

Bolivia had another coup this week, the first since 1984 but somewhere around the 190th since its independence in 1825. This one is a bit interesting.

Bolivia’s president accused of plotting coup against himself to boost popularity

Opponents say abortive raid on palace by angry ex-army chief was a stunt to bolster support

www.theguardian.com

By 2.30pm, a small tank was repeatedly ramming the gates of the neoclassical building known as Palacio Quemado until troops forced their way in and, in an extraordinary scene, the coup leader – disgruntled former army chief Juan José Zuñiga – faced off against the president, Luis Arce.


Flanked by cabinet ministers and clasping a ceremonial baton, a symbol of his rank as head of state, Arce, 60, ordered Zuñiga to back down, telling him: “I am your captain … withdraw all of your troops right now, general.”

The heated exchange was filmed and lasted several minutes. It ended when Zuñiga turned and left via the same broken door through which he had entered, disappearing into a bulletproof army vehicle that sped away.

Just before he was detained on Wednesday, the alleged plotter Zuñiga sowed seeds of doubt, telling journalists – without providing evidence – that Arce had ordered him to stage a sham coup in a bid to boost the president’s flagging popularity.

Regardless of whether or not they are true, the rumours of a “self-coup” have “taken hold in the popular imagination”, said Pareja, and may be hard for Arce to shake. “If this backfires on him, the weakness and fragility of his government could deepen.”

So, what do you think? A real coup, or an auto-coup? An unfortunate sign of instability or a clever way to boost popularity?

 

[Zardnaar]

Who knows? If it was a real coup you would think the would arrest or kill El Capitano.

 

[r16]

when the hegemon starts to look like a joke , it becomes easier for Commies to talk to underlings . And when the Commies retire some general whose reach to power is essentially temporary , the said general thinks the Army will follow him and the underlings look at the hegemon and decide to ignore the risk of savage retribution because debate or whatever . Meaning a less notable Bidon's better functioning Administration would have told the General that he should enjoy his retirement and that would be it . Yes , American power is unfortunately alive or something , merely hindered .

 

[EnglishEdward]

My first guess is that it was purely personal, they discovered they were enjoying the same exclusive mistress.

 

[amadeus]

60/40 incompetent execution

Guy jailed his predecessor.

 

[r16]

who , the one who came in a coup justified in Elon Musk's name ?

 

[Lexicus]

Guy jailed his predecessor.

She was a criminal, lol