The mobilization has the support of union, regional, neighborhood, and social groups in general, as well as progressive and centrist political forces. The latter joined in against their custom of staying away from these demonstrations.

Although the platform of struggle demands an increase in the minimum wage, the organization at the forefront of the protests, the General Confederation of Workers, made it clear that the maximum demand is the end of the Executive and the Legislative through early elections, which both powers reject even though both have marginal approval in the polls, in the single digits, which in turn is strongly felt through expressions of rejection in public activities of rulers and legislators.

The Government awaits the protests on alert. Minister of the Interior Juan José Santiváñez declared yesterday that marches will be allowed, but warned against riots by stating that “from the moment the first stone is thrown, the National Police will act.”

The date of the protest coincides with another anniversary of the national strike of July 19th, 1977, which cornered the military ruler Francisco Morales and forced him to convene a constituent assembly and general elections.

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