LA PAZ — Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz reached an agreement Friday with the Bolivian Workers’ Confederation, known as the COB, in what could be a turning point in a standoff that has brought the country to a near standstill over the past 50 days.
The ongoing unrest has had a severe impact on everyday life in Bolivia, with citizens facing lengthy lines at fuel stations and struggling to obtain basic necessities like food and medical supplies due to widespread roadblocks set up by protesters.
The head of the COB’s executive leadership, Mario Argollo, expressed cautious optimism about the agreement. “There is a country waiting for white smoke to appear today,” Argollo said. “We believe we must begin to iron out our differences; we must start building a country based on consensus, with workers participating in the decisions.”
