Bolivia’s defense minister, Salinas, has stepped down following weeks of widespread protests

Bolivian defense minister Marcelo Salinas resigned on Tuesday, according to a ministry source who spoke to Reuters. This decision comes after weeks of social unrest and mass protests that have obstructed streets in major cities over the past month.

A second government source indicated that Ernesto Justiniano has been chosen to succeed Salinas.

Protests against the government, spearheaded by labor unions and supporters of former leftist President Evo Morales, have disrupted supply chains and called for the resignation of centrist President Rodrigo Paz, who took office in November 2025, marking the end of nearly twenty years of leftist governance.

Last week, Paz initiated actions to declare a state of emergency that may deploy troops into the streets to restore order.

Protesters are calling on the new government to reverse austerity measures and tackle the increasing cost of living.

The conflict commenced with a workers’ strike in May that escalated into highway blockades, effectively severing access to the neighboring cities of La Paz and El Alto, which are inhabited by approximately 2 million individuals.