Solution to crisis in Bolivia stalls as protests continue

Protests against the postponement of presidential elections continued Monday for the eighth day in Bolivia as the Ministry of Health warned of a health "imminent disaster situation" if they continue.

Union leaders backing exiled President Evo Morales, who are demanding that the elections take place before the October 18 date established by the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE), continued blocking roads.

A dialogue called on Sunday by interim President Jeanine Áñez to find a way out failed as a result of the absence of the main political and union leaders.

Demanding a solution to the blockades, a group of representatives of the milk industry on Monday dumped milk in the steps of the local government offices.

Milk producers estimate a loss of 340.000 litres of milk daily due to the roadblocks.

According to the government the postponement of the elections, which were scheduled for September 6, was due to the health crisis caused by the coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health reported that some 31 people had died this week due to lack of oxygen in hospitals for COVID-19 patients and other pathologies due to roadblocks.

In a statement, the Health Ministry denounced on Sunday that protesters intercepted three trucks carrying oxygen to the city of Cochabamba, in the centre of the country.

The political and social crisis that the country faced at the end of last year after elections cancelled due to allegations of fraud caused the death of 36 protesters and the resignation of Morales after almost 14 years in power.

The dispute has flared up again in recent weeks at a time when virus infections are on the rise with 89,055 positives and 3,587 deaths as of Sunday.

In Cochabamba, families were keeping coffins at their homes for more than six days, and the dead were being placed in the streets due to a collapse of their funeral services.