The parliamentary processing of bills related to lithium exploitation contracts with Chinese and Russian companies has generated ‘doubts and unease among institutions, NGOs and members of civil society, who have denounced possible damage to the nation and a lack of information and clarity for citizens’.

The foundations Jubileo, Milenio, Solón, the Geneva Club and the Bolivian Documentation and Information Centre (Cedib) issued a manifesto denouncing ‘improvisation and lack of experience’ on the part of the Bolivian state-owned YLB in the negotiations.

More than 20 civil society organisations sent a letter to the Legislative Assembly requesting that decisions be informed and legitimate, in the collective interest of the country.

Protesters interrupted the government conference where the contracts were being discussed, saying that the country's lithium, the largest reserve on the planet, should benefit the people of Bolivia and that the agreements were made without consulting indigenous communities.

Faced with this situation, the Chamber of Deputies suspended parliamentary proceedings ‘until the information process with all sectors of civil society is completed’.