Bolivian miners mobilise against fuel subsidy cuts as pressure mounts on Paz government: Video
Hundreds of miners took to the streets of Cochabamba this week, joining nationwide protests led by the Bolivian Workers Centre (COB) against a government decree that eliminates fuel subsidies.
The demonstrations target Supreme Decree 5503, issued by President Rodrigo Paz, which introduced sharp increases in petrol and diesel prices and has sparked growing unrest among organised labour groups.
The mobilisation was led by miners affiliated with the Departmental Federation of Mining Cooperatives of Cochabamba (Fidecomin), who marched towards the city centre to demand the immediate repeal of the decree. Protesters described the measure as unconstitutional and warned that it disproportionately affects low-income Bolivians who rely on subsidised fuel to sustain their daily livelihoods.
Speaking during the march, miners made clear that the repeal of Decree 5503 is their sole demand and signalled that the current protests could escalate. Union representatives said more forceful actions, including road blockades and broader mobilisations, remain under consideration if the government fails to respond.
Decree 5503 set new fuel prices at 6.96 bolivianos per litre for regular petrol, 11 bolivianos for premium petrol, and 9.80 bolivianos for diesel. The policy marks a significant shift in Bolivia’s long-standing fuel subsidy system and comes amid wider economic pressures facing the country.
The government has suggested that the protests may be driven by political motivations, a claim firmly rejected by demonstrators, who argue their demands are social and economic in nature. With mobilisations expected to continue, attention now turns to the executive branch, which faces mounting pressure to address opposition to the decree and prevent further escalation of the conflict.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
