“The country is facing an attempted coup d’etat. Here we are, firm in Casa Grande, to confront any coup attempt. We need the Bolivian people to organise,” Arce said in a video, surrounded by ministers in the palace.

The scenes have brought alarm to the Andean nation, where former left-wing President Morales, from the same party as Arce, was removed from office in events many described as a coup in 2019.

“We express the strongest condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat in Bolivia,” Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said.

Edit: The coup attempt apparently failed and the article has been updated

      • CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work
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        5 months ago

        I’m aware of the history of coups in Bolivia. However, I have a hard time taking this seriously:

        Dramatic footage on Bolivian television showed Arce facing down Zuniga and a group of soldiers in a palace hallway on Wednesday. “I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination,” Arce said.

        We are supposed to believe that President Arcre defeated the coup attempt just by big-dicking General Zuniga on national television. It’s certainly possible that Zuniga really is just an incredible buffoon, but that seems very lucky for Arce and very embarrassing for the opposition.

        • USSR Enjoyer@lemmygrad.mlOP
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          5 months ago

          I was watching some live footage and it was suggested this was a response to Morales trying to enter government again. I was seeing it as an open threat of a coup from the military that they weren’t prepared to carry any further, more than a serious coup attempt. But, maybe I’m less skeptical than I need to be.

        • Lemmykoopa@lemmygrad.ml
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          5 months ago

          And the General claimed it was all staged afterwards lol. I believe atm that Acre did Sorkin his way out of it, but it’s up there with Fidel representing himself in court and winning levels of implausible yet happened

      • CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work
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        4 months ago

        Lol thanks. I mean I guess it’s something that Evo sees it my way. I didn’t even realize that he and Arce were frenemies. I must have missed that episode!

        • loathsome dongeater@lemmygrad.mlM
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          4 months ago

          Word is that Morales wants to primary for his party so he can be president next term but Arce does not want that so it was a bad ruse to boost his popularity. Lot of speculation though. Will be watching how it goes from here.