Three leaders, including the former Bolivian general, who have been accused of leading the failed coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce were remanded in custody, on Friday (Jun 28), said the country’s top prosecutor. According to&nbsp;Arce, the detained former Bolivian general Juan Jose Zuniga had planned to “take over” the government and become the president if the coup was successful. &nbsp;

<h2>Who all are&nbsp;remanded in custody?</h2>

In addition to the former army chief, ex-head of navy Juan Arnez and Alejandro Irahola, former head of the army’s mechanised brigade will also be held in a high-security prison near the city of La Paz, reported AFP.&nbsp;

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State Attorney General Cesar Siles said that the AG’s office had requested the six-month detention, a move which was supported&nbsp;by other government bodies, including the country’s defence ministry and interior ministry “due to the importance and seriousness of the events that occurred.”&nbsp;

“This pre-trial detention ordered by the judge will undoubtedly set a precedent, and is a good signal for the investigation to move forward,” said Siles on state television, as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;

The former military officers face charges of engaging in an armed uprising and terrorism and face up to 20 years in prison.&nbsp;

According to Siles, Zuniga has been handed a terrorism charge, which carries 15 to 20 years in prison as well as a charge for an armed uprising, which carries a sentence of 5-15 years.

A total of 21 active, retired and civilian military personnel were arrested in connection with the attempted coup, on Wednesday (Jun 26) which saw the deployment of troops and tanks in the heart of the capital as they tried to break down a door of the presidential palace.&nbsp;

<h2>Zuniga’s plan to ‘take over’</h2>

In an interview with the Associated Press, the embattled Bolivian president spoke about the former general’s plans to “take over” and become the country’s leader had he been successful in his attempted coup.&nbsp;

He denied that the attack on Wednesday was a “self-coup” designed to garner him political points. “I didn’t escape. I stayed to defend democracy,” Arce told&nbsp;AP.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coup-attempt-in-bolivia-fails-police-arrest-the-mastermind-735494">Coup attempt in Bolivia fails, mastermind arrested</a>

This comes after Zuniga claimed he was following the Bolivian president’s orders and that Arce had hoped for the coup to trigger a crackdown which would boost his popularity.&nbsp;

Arce also told news agency AP that his government was already being “politically attacked” by his one-time ally turned rival, former President Evo Morales and that the infighting had affected legislative activities and hamstrung his government in confronting economic problems.

In recent weeks, the Andean nation has witnessed a rise in tensions over surging prices, shortages of dollars and fuel, and a feud between Arce and Morales ahead of the 2025 election.

The incumbent president told AP that his government “has taken action” to address intermittent gasoline, dollar shortages, and other issues that the country’s economy faces, but denied that the Andean nation was in the midst of an economic crisis.

Arce also said that the government was investigating if the attack was organised by the country’s political opposition.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Three leaders, including the former Bolivian general, who have been accused of leading the failed coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce were remanded in custody, on Friday (Jun 28), said the country’s top prosecutor.

Three leaders, including the former Bolivian general, who have been accused of leading the failed coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce were remanded in custody, on Friday (Jun 28), said the country’s top prosecutor. According to Arce, the detained former Bolivian general Juan Jose Zuniga had planned to “take over” the government and become the president if the coup was successful. Who all are remanded in custody? In addition to the former army chief, ex-head of navy Juan Arnez and Alejandro Irahola, former head of the army’s mechanised brigade will also be held in a high-security prison near the city of La Paz, reported AFP. State Attorney General Cesar Siles said that the AG’s office had requested the six-month detention, a move which was supported by other government bodies, including the country’s defence ministry and interior ministry “due to the importance and seriousness of the events that occurred.” “This pre-trial detention ordered by the judge will undoubtedly set a precedent, and is a good signal for the investigation to move forward,” said Siles on state television, as quoted by AFP. The former military officers face charges of engaging in an armed uprising and terrorism and face up to 20 years in prison. According to Siles, Zuniga has been handed a terrorism charge, which carries 15 to 20 years in prison as well as a charge for an armed uprising, which carries a sentence of 5-15 years. A total of 21 active, retired and civilian military personnel were arrested in connection with the attempted coup, on Wednesday (Jun 26) which saw the deployment of troops and tanks in the heart of the capital as they tried to break down a door of the presidential palace. Zuniga’s plan to ‘take over’ In an interview with the Associated Press, the embattled Bolivian president spoke about the former general’s plans to “take over” and become the country’s leader had he been successful in his attempted coup. He denied that the attack on Wednesday was a “self-coup” designed to garner him political points. “I didn’t escape. I stayed to defend democracy,” Arce told AP. Also Read | Coup attempt in Bolivia fails, mastermind arrested This comes after Zuniga claimed he was following the Bolivian president’s orders and that Arce had hoped for the coup to trigger a crackdown which would boost his popularity. Arce also told news agency AP that his government was already being “politically attacked” by his one-time ally turned rival, former President Evo Morales and that the infighting had affected legislative activities and hamstrung his government in confronting economic problems. In recent weeks, the Andean nation has witnessed a rise in tensions over surging prices, shortages of dollars and fuel, and a feud between Arce and Morales ahead of the 2025 election. The incumbent president told AP that his government “has taken action” to address intermittent gasoline, dollar shortages, and other issues that the country’s economy faces, but denied that the Andean nation was in the midst of an economic crisis. Arce also said that the government was investigating if the attack was organised by the country’s political opposition. (With inputs from agencies)

Bolivian general, other suspected leaders of failed coup get six months pre-trial detention

The interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez, announced on Thursday her withdrawal from the presidential race a month before the elections, fearing she would split the vote against leftist Luis Arce, protege of former leader Evo Morales.&nbsp;

"Today I set aside my candidacy for the presidency of Bolivia," said the right wing leader in a televised message.&nbsp;

She explained that she made the decision "in view of the risk that the democratic vote be divided among various candidates and that as a result of that division the MAS (Movement Towards Socialism, led by Morales) end up winning the election" of October 18.&nbsp;

Flanked by her candidate for the vice presidency, businessman Samuel Doria Medina, and other political allies, Anez called for unity against the MAS, whose standard-bearer is in first place in polls.&nbsp;

"If we do not unite, Morales returns; if we do not unite, democracy loses; if we do not unite, the dictatorship wins," said the 53-year-old leader.&nbsp;

Anez abandoned the electoral race one day after a national poll put her in fourth place in the race, and Arce in the lead.&nbsp;

Anez took office in November 2019, after Morales resigned amid social upheaval.&nbsp;

She promised to lead a transitional government with the aim of calling new elections in 2020, but in January she announced her candidacy, a decision that was highly criticized by adversaries and some allies.

The interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez, announced on Thursday her withdrawal from the presidential race a month before the elections, fearing she would split the vote against leftist Luis Arce, protege of former leader Evo Morales.

The interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez, announced on Thursday her withdrawal from the presidential race a month before the elections, fearing she would split the vote against leftist Luis Arce, protege of former leader Evo Morales. "Today I set aside my candidacy for the presidency of Bolivia," said the right wing leader in a televised message. She explained that she made the decision "in view of the risk that the democratic vote be divided among various candidates and that as a result of that division the MAS (Movement Towards Socialism, led by Morales) end up winning the election" of October 18. Flanked by her candidate for the vice presidency, businessman Samuel Doria Medina, and other political allies, Anez called for unity against the MAS, whose standard-bearer is in first place in polls. "If we do not unite, Morales returns; if we do not unite, democracy loses; if we do not unite, the dictatorship wins," said the 53-year-old leader. Anez abandoned the electoral race one day after a national poll put her in fourth place in the race, and Arce in the lead. Anez took office in November 2019, after Morales resigned amid social upheaval. She promised to lead a transitional government with the aim of calling new elections in 2020, but in January she announced her candidacy, a decision that was highly criticized by adversaries and some allies.

Bolivia interim president withdraws from presidential race

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Bolivian general, other suspected leaders of failed coup get six months pre-trial detention

Bolivia interim president withdraws from presidential race