It’s been more than 40 years since Bolivia last faced the threat of an armed forces takeover.
From 1964 to 1982, the country was almost continuously under military regimes, but it has remained a democracy since then.
The recent storming of the presidential palace in La Paz by Gen. Juan José Zúñiga has brought back memories of those dark times.
Even after the general’s arrest, questions linger about the legitimacy of this coup attempt.
Gen. Zúñiga claimed the military intervention was requested by President Luis Arce, who is embroiled in an ideological battle with one of his predecessors that has paralyzed the Bolivian government.
From this perspective, the coup threat has allowed the president to position himself as a defender of democracy, providing him with a much-needed boost in popularity.