Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext, the United States-backed regime in Bolivia has repeatedly postponed elections, which were originally scheduled to occur on March 3.
However, on August 13, Bolivia's legislature enacted a law to set October 18 as the absolute deadline for holding presidential elections, according to TeleSUR English.
The law includes provisions to generate criminal consequences for anyone who attempts to postpone the date.
Social unrest began after the electoral institution, controlled by the coup-regime, led by Jeanine Añez, announced a new postponement of the election.
To avoid any changes that would allow Añez to extend her tenure in the interim presidency, the bill sets out October 18 as the "unpostponable and immovable" deadline.
This proposal came after a meeting was held on August 8 between representatives of the Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
In the midst of the massive protests that have blockaded the country's main highways, the Añez regime has continued its persecution against Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) militants and sympathisers, charging them with offences such as genocide.
Despite the threats, social organisations are still in the streets, demanding the holding of elections to determine a new president, vice president and lawmakers.
Following the announcement of the new law, Bolivian Workers Center (COB) and social movement leaders said their bases would decide whether or not to maintain the protests.