January 12, 2026
The Bolivian Workers’ Union (COB) have broken off talks with the government, and its executive, Mario Argollo, described the Bolivian people’s struggle as a national revolution. Meanwhile, the number of roadblocks across the country increased to more than 60 locations.
The COB executive, along with other leaders, walked out of the meeting with the government and criticized the ministers’ lack of interest and honesty in resolving the conflict with the immediate repeal of Supreme Decree 5503, which eliminates fuel subsidies and paves the way for the privatization of state-owned companies and the transfer of natural resources to foreign hands.
Argollo explained that they attended the meeting in the hope that the government would announce the repeal of the decree, but that the government has no interest in resolving the conflict. It was the government that broke off the dialogue, leaving no other option but to radicalize the pressure measures, he said.
“They (the ministers) were the ones who broke off the dialogue,” he clarified, stating that the Bolivian people’s struggle in the streets has already become a national revolution because they will not allow the Bolivian state and its companies and natural resources to be handed over to foreign hands.
“This has become a revolution,” Argollo reiterated as he called on the people and social organizations to massively protest against Supreme Decree 5503 and declared himself disappointed with the government and the judiciary, which decided to validate the decree in question.
Meanwhile, roadblocks across virtually the entire country increased between Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday morning to more than 60 locations on national roads, and new mobilizations were announced in the departmental capitals.
Other social sectors also joined the protests and blockades, including residents of several districts of El Alto, trade unions, part of the urban transport system in the main capitals, grassroots organizations, activists, and environmental defenders, among others.
Source: El Nuevo Cambio, translation Resumen-english