Edmand Lara accuses President Paz of siding with the wealthy as labor federation presses on with strikes.
On Wednesday, Bolivian Vice President Edmand Lara, who has declared himself an opponent of President Rodrigo Paz, voiced support for protests promoted by the Bolivian Workers’ Center (COB) against the withdrawal of fuel subsidies.
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Bolivian Government Represses Protest Against Fuel Price Hike in La Paz
In a video posted on TikTok, Lara, a former police officer, urged Bolivians not to give up and not to let their morale or guard down.
“These are hard times, and God knows why things happen. And tyrants will fall in the end, and they will fall into the very pit they are creating,” he said, accusing Paz of having “sided with the rich.”
Lara described Presidential Decree 5503, which has been in force for a couple of weeks, as an instrument of “hunger, unemployment, and despair.” The Bolivian vice president called on protesters to remain “strong” and told them that better days are coming.
En Bolivia se realizaron protestas contra el aumento del precio de la gasolina, conocido como “gasolinazo”. Diversos sectores sociales salieron a las calles para expresar su rechazo a la medida, señalando que afecta directamente la economía de la población. pic.twitter.com/N5B5fdwD00
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 25, 2025
The text reads, “Protests erupted in Bolivia against the gasoline price hike, known as the ‘gasolinazo.’ Various social sectors took to the streets to reject the measure, arguing that it directly impacts the population’s economy.”
“We knew it would not be easy, we knew the corrupt would resist, but we have opened a door. Here I am to defend you, here I am to stand with the people,” Lara said, insisting that “the days of the tyrants are numbered.”
Relations between Paz and Lara have remained tense since the ticket won the runoff election in October. This week, Lara declared himself in “constructive opposition,” called Paz “corrupt,” and lashed out at Cabinet ministers, calling them “jerks” for withdrawing fuel subsidies and “causing social upheaval.”
Without providing evidence, Lara accused lawmakers of approving loans in exchange for positions in state institutions. In response, the Chambers of Deputies and Senators demanded that he retract his statements and warned they could initiate criminal proceedings against him.
On Wednesday, some COB members again marched in La Paz against Decree 5503. The demonstration reached the headquarters of the Bolivian Mine Workers Union Federation, where union leaders are meeting to assess the impact of protests held since Monday.
El mensaje que publicó el vicepresidente Edmand Lara durante la Nochebuena para cuestionar las medidas económicas del Decreto Supremo 5503. pic.twitter.com/TsLIC3Eve8
— Correo del Sur (@correodelsurcom) December 25, 2025
The video shows the message that Vice President Edmand Lara posted on Christmas Eve to question Supreme Decree 5503’s economic measures.
The COB, a historic organization that was allied with the governments of Evo Morales (2006-2019) and Luis Arce (2020-2025), called an open-ended general strike. So far, it has been observed only by miners working for state-owned companies.
Transport workers, merchants and miners operating under the cooperative system ended their protests after reaching agreements with the Paz administration. Despite this, the COB remains mobilized and has conditioned dialogue with Paz on the repeal of Decree 5503, which raised gasoline prices by 86% and diesel prices by 162%.
The presidential decree was accompanied by other measures, including an increase in the minimum wage from 2,750 to 3,300 bolivianos (US$395 to US$$474), higher stipends for students in the public school system, and pensions for older adults without social security contributions.
Paz said the removal of subsidies guaranteed supplies of diesel and gasoline, which had been scarce for nearly a year and a half, and allows the Bolivian state to save US$10 million a day.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Bolivia: Rescue teams open roads for trapped families after a deadly flood, which left at least 22 people dead. pic.twitter.com/IL7l6ow8cj
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 23, 2025
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Source: EFE
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