The Lithium Coup

In late 2019 violent protests shook Bolivia in the midst of a deep political crisis driven by accusations of electoral fraud. President Evo Morales had sought re-election for his fourth consecutive term, defying the limit set in the constitution. After he had been declared the winner, protests spread across all of Bolivia’s major cities.

Little more than two weeks later, Evo Morales surrendered to the growing pressures and resigned, after the armed forces had publicly requested him to do so. The same day he fled the country with his vice-president. In a recording broadcasted later that day, the two made clear that they had been ousted by nothing less than a coup d’état.

In the months that followed, a fierce debate arose about what exactly had happened during those fateful weeks. One side claimed that foreign imperial powers had aligned with the Bolivian fascist right to stage a Coup. The other side claimed that “the people” had risen against dictator Evo, doing no more and no less than re-establishing democracy.

Those in favor of the coup hypothesis saw in lithium the reason for foreign intervention in national politics. Clearly, the United States had ousted Evo Morales, a firm critic of US imperialism, to gain access to the country’s huge lithium resources. Evo Morales himself spread this explanation in a series of tweets and interviews.

Lithium indeed played a role in the unfolding political crisis. In the run-up to elections, and well before protests spread across the country, people in Potosi took to the streets to defend their lithium. They have been branded as right-wing collaborationists because their struggle contributed to the fall of Evo Morales’ left-leaning government. In light of such grand accusations and entrenched positions it might be worth listening to what protesters themselves had to say.

Potosi on its feet

It is mid-October 2019 and Potosi has come to a standstill. Protesters are blocking street corners across the city, and have closed down schools, markets, and other public places. The Civic Committee of Potosi (COMCIPO) is coordinating protests and has joined with other opposition forces to reach the national stage.

On the streets of the imperial city

Beyond opposition leaders, however, people from across society have been mobilized, from university teachers to street vendors. Why did they take to the streets? To find out, let us take a walk through the Imperial City at the foot of the infamous Cerro Rico.

It is a wonderful Sunday with almost summer-like temperatures and soothing sunshine at 4000 meters above sea level. The streets are lined with flags that mark allegiance: red and white for Potosi; red, yellow and green for Bolivia.

A fair share for a better future

Potosi has an intimate relation to mining. Cerro Rico was once the world’s largest silver mine and the Imperial City was once bigger and richer than European capitals, such as Paris or London. But while producing incredible riches for the colonizers, Cerro Rico is infamous for the suffering and poverty it has left. Today, Potosi is the poorest region in Bolivia, which in turn is one of the poorest countries on the continent.

Thousands of artisanal miners still enter the shafts of Cerro Rico each day, but people don’t really see a future anymore in what was once a rich mountain. Mineral yields are constantly falling and there are concerns that the mountain might soon collapse, as the countless tunnels have turned it into a Swiss cheese.

Salar de Uyuni has become a new source of hope for Potosi. Located a three-hours drive away in the southwestern part of the department, the salt flat is not only a famous tourist destination, but also the world’s largest lithium reserve. Lithium extraction has not yet actually started here, but hopes have been big, and struggles for future benefits fierce.

Fighting a deceptive deal

It was a particular event that caused the protests in Potosi. In late 2018, the Morales government signed a lithium contract with the German company ACI Systems. This contract was later criticized for violating Bolivia’s interests. Potosi in particular would loose out in this deal, or so critics lamented, getting only a tiny share of future profits.

Political lithium

Something has to be wrong about the lithium deal. The government signed a contract for 70 years with a small and unknown company with no experience in lithium extraction. Who will really benefit? What is this deal really about? Protesters are demandubg to call it off. When if not now, right before national elections, can they make their voices heard?

Closing down the streets

Not everyone agrees with locking down the city for weeks to defend a future thanks to lithium. Not everyone complies with COMCIPO’s mandate to close shops and end the day with empty pockets. But we are not the only ones walking through the streets of Potosi, and protests in Bolivia are better organized that you might think.