While defending the legality of the arrest, del Castillo criticized members of parliament from Cremos, Camacho’s party, calling them “extremist and violent groups that have come to steal the wallets of the Bolivian people”.
Lawmakers from Bolivia’s ruling and opposition party hit, kicked and shoved each other during a report by Interior Minister Eduard del Castillo in a plenary session of Parliament.
Opposition deputies raised protest banners, which were removed by deputies of the ruling party, which led to clashes between the two parties, without causing any injuries.
Parliament summoned Minister del Castillo to report on the imprisonment at the end of last December of Santa Cruz district governor Luis Fernando Camacho, the country’s main opposition figure.
While defending the legality of the arrest, del Castillo criticized members of Parliament from Cremos, Camacho’s party, calling them “extremist and violent groups that have come to steal the wallets of the Bolivian people”.
In response to these statements, a number of pro-government parliamentarians attacked opponents to remove their banners amidst the stampede, according to images broadcast on social media platforms.
The report was suspended for a few minutes and Maria Rene Alvarez, Cremos’ deputy, blamed Minister del Castillo for promoting a “climate of hostility”, as she put it.
It is noteworthy that the opposition claims that there are about 180 political prisoners in Bolivia, accused by the left-wing government of supporting an alleged coup against former President Evo Morales in 2019 and supporting his successor, the right-wing Jeanine Anez, who is also among the prisoners.
