Overview
- President Rodrigo Paz issued Supreme Decree No. 5517 declaring a nationwide social and energy emergency in response to inflation, dollar scarcity, and fuel shortages.
- The decree temporarily authorizes private individuals and companies to import, sell, and commercialize fuels at import or preterminal prices to ensure supply in urban and rural areas.
- Officials describe a structural economic, financial, and social crisis marked by rising logistics costs and stalled productive activity affecting the cost of living and public security.
- The Inter-American Development Bank signaled an initial support package of about US$2 billion for social protection, stabilization, and private-sector investment through BID Invest.
- Vice President Edmand Lara announced he will submit a bill to block what he calls unconstitutional presidential decrees, citing the elimination of longstanding fuel subsidies under Decree 5503 and objecting to Decree 5515.