The Bolivian government had intelligence about a possible coup attempt even before the ex-general and his troops stormed the presidential palace.
This was announced on Thursday by Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo, reports Reuters .
In an interview with local broadcaster Unitel, Castillo said President Luis Arce had received reports of “destabilization attempts,” but said the government had no further details at the time.
The retired general who carried out Wednesday's failed coup, Juan José Zuniga, was arrested, along with former navy commander Juan Arnez Salvador, Castillo said. He noted that about a dozen officers were also detained and face prison sentences ranging from 15 to 30 years.
Del Castillo said Zuniga was told Tuesday night that he would be stripped of his post because his behavior was “unconstitutional.” He added that Zuniga reacted calmly to the news.
But no one could have imagined that the next day, before the official transfer of power, there would be an unsuccessful coup in our country, he said.
Late Wednesday, Presidential Administration Minister Maria Nela Prada told reporters that Zuniga confessed to police and said the coup attempt failed because reinforcements did not arrive on time.
But upon his arrest, Zuniga publicly stated that he had been tasked with carrying out the coup at Arce's direction in order to increase the president's popularity, a claim Prada denied.