Sad faces all round as Bolivia’s clowns protest over decree threatening their livelihoods

Dozens of clowns have marched through the streets of Bolivia’s capital to protest against a government decree that limits extracurricular activities in schools, threatening their livelihoods.

Wearing full face paint and their signature red noses, the clowns gathered on Monday in front of the ministry of education in La Paz to oppose a decree published in February. The new mandate says schools must comply with 200 days of lessons each year – in effect banning them from hosting the special events where the entertainers are frequently employed.

A clown rides a unicycle during a protest in La Paz against the government’s ban on holiday parties at schools during teaching hours. Photograph: Juan Karita/AP

Clowns in Bolivia are often hired for school festivities to entertain children during breaks from their regular lessons. One such event is Children’s Day, which the country celebrates on 12 April.

“This decree will economically affect all of us who work with children,” said Wilder Ramírez, a leader of the local clown union, who also goes by the name of Zapallito. The clown told journalists that “children need to laugh”, while his colleagues wondered if Bolivia’s education minister had ever had a childhood.

The decree issued by the government of the recently elected president, Rodrigo Paz, says celebrations will no longer be authorised during regular school days, though they can be held voluntarily on weekends. Government officials said they would take the clowns’ critiques into account when they make a decree for the 2027 school year.

But those assurances provided little relief to the clowns protesting on Monday.

The decree by President Rodrigo Paz says celebrations will no longer be authorised during regular school days, though they can be held voluntarily on weekends. Photograph: Luis Gandarillas/EPA

“This decree will diminish our income, and with the economic crisis the country is going through, our future looks increasingly gloomy,” said Elías Gutiérrez, a spokesperson for the Confederation of Artisanal Workers of Bolivia.

Bolivia is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades. Revenues from natural gas are plummeting after a sustained decline in production, and US dollars are becoming scarce, making imports more expensive in the landlocked nation.

Clowns, photographers and costume makers marched through the centre of La Paz, blowing whistles and setting off small fireworks. Photograph: Luis Gandarillas/EPA

Tailors who work with clowns and make dresses for children for cultural events and photographers who typically cover school celebrations joined Monday’s protest.

Clowns, photographers and costume makers marched through the centre of La Paz, blowing whistles and setting off small fireworks.

One of the clowns carried a sign that blamed the government for “taking away smiles, and taking work away”.