Governments of different Latin American countries denounced that the voting in Nicaragua did not comply with “minimum guarantees” of transparency, so they warn that they will adopt “All necessary actions” to restore democracy in the country. Actions that —inclusive— could lead to the expulsion of this nation from the Organization of American States (OAS).
In its latest report, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE), controlled by Ortega, assigned the family binomial of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo 75.92% of votes, in elections in which 65.34% of the registered voters supposedly voted. By contrast, the independent observatory Urnas Abiertas reports that only 18.5% of those authorized to vote went to the polls.
The Government of the Dominican Republic rejected “the electoral simulation” carried out in Nicaragua and called on the members of the OAS to adopt “all necessary actions” to protect Nicaraguan democracy, creating a space for political dialogue that allows a return to constitutionality. democratic.
“The Dominican Government cannot remain silent in the face of situations that threaten the basic pillars of democracy, whose raison d’être is precisely to ensure that political struggles take place within the framework of respect for the rule of law and the necessary guarantees for the validity of the laws. fundamental freedoms ”, says a statement from the Dominican Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Government of Peru warned that keep pressing in the Permanent Council of the OAS in order to preserve the right of Nicaraguans to hold free, fair, and transparent elections in accordance with the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Since they consider that Sunday’s votes “do not meet the minimum criteria” of free, fair and transparent elections and “deserve the rejection of the international community.”
“Peru has supported the resolutions adopted in the Organization of American States to avoid this serious situation, as well as all collective efforts aimed at promoting the reestablishment of dialogue and understanding among Nicaraguans, the release of candidates and political prisoners, and the implementation of the agreed electoral reforms, “says a statement from the Peruvian Foreign Ministry.
The elections in Nicaragua have been a “Not free, not fair, and certainly undemocratic pantomime,” declared US President Joe Biden, after announcing that it will use “all the diplomatic and economic tools” at its disposal to demand responsibility, including the so-called Renacer Law, to expand sanctions against Nicaragua.
Elections “lack legitimacy”
The Government of Uruguay also emphasized that these elections “lack legitimacy”, as they have not been framed by internationally recognized standards. For this reason, he reiterated his call to the Government of Nicaragua “to immediately release political prisoners, ensuring respect for their freedom, personal integrity and the right to political participation.”
The Government of Panama also rejected “the exclusionary conditions of the electoral process” in Nicaragua, as well as the systematic violations of human rights and arrests of opposition leaders, the breakdown of institutions, restrictions against the media and civil society. .
The Government of Costa Rica, a country that welcomes thousands of Nicaraguan exiles, announced this Sunday that does not recognize the electoral process due to the “absence of conditions and guarantees” required in a democracy to certify elections as transparent, credible, independent, free, fair and inclusive.
“Nicaragua’s prognosis is reserved,” said the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, who emphasized that “Ecuador’s position, in general terms, will always be one of support for democracy and the principles of freedom. Hopefully Nicaragua will follow that path ”.
The Chilean government pointed out that it “rejects and does not recognize the legitimacy” of the elections in Nicaragua, “which aim to perpetuate Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in power by consolidating a dictatorial regime.”
As published by the Chilean Foreign Ministry in a statement, the Nicaraguan electoral process “lacked all the conditions to be considered valid and transparent.”
Canada: “Regime Stole”
“The elections on November 7 in Nicaragua do not reflect the will of the Nicaraguan people,” warned Canadian Minister of Relations, Mélanie Joly. The Ortega and Murillo regime “robbed the citizens of Nicaragua of their right to vote in truly free and fair elections by manipulating the electoral process to seize power, in particular by arbitrarily arresting and detaining political opponents, repressing independent media, and forcing civilians in exile, “he added.
Joly assured that the Government of Canada will continue “to use all of our diplomatic tools to hold this oppressive regime and its facilitators accountable.” It is for this reason that “we will work with democracies in the region and around the world, including in the General Assembly of the Organization of American States from November 10 to 12 to urge the Ortega regime to change course and seek a peaceful and democratic solution to the current crisis ”, he added.
