Bolivia's defence minister Salinas resigns after weeks of mass protests

Bolivian defence ‌minister Marcelo Salinas ​resigned on Tuesday, a ministry source told Reuters, following weeks of social ‌unrest and mass protests which have blocked streets in major cities over the last month. A second government source said ‌Ernesto Justiniano has been tapped to replace Salinas.

Bolivian defence ‌minister Marcelo Salinas ​resigned on Tuesday, a ministry source told Reuters, following weeks of social ‌unrest and mass protests which have blocked streets in major cities over the last month.

A second government source said ‌Ernesto Justiniano has been tapped to replace Salinas. Anti-government protests ‌led by labor unions and groups loyal to former leftist President Evo Morales, have strangled supply chains and demanded the resignation of ⁠centrist ​President Rodrigo Paz, ⁠who assumed office in November 2025 putting an end to almost ⁠two decades of leftist rule.

Last week Paz took steps towards ​declaring a state of emergency that could send troops ⁠into the streets to restore calm. Protesters want the new government to ⁠roll ​back austerity measures and address rising living costs.

The conflict began with a workers' strike in May ⁠that escalated into highway blockades that cut off access to the neighboring ⁠cities ⁠of La Paz and El Alto, which are home to some 2 million people.