Three days before the November 7 voting, the Police of the Daniel Ortega regime raided the Mercaplan polling company, which a few months ago conducted a survey on the political climate and intention to vote in the country in the elections in which Daniel Ortega was re-elected after canceling the political competition, imprisoning seven opposition presidential candidates and dozens of political and civic leaders
The company Mercaplan, founded in Honduras and directed by Asís Arechavaleta Pintó, conducted a survey that included questions about whether citizens would participate in the elections or whether they had confidence in the electoral process, according to sources who know about the raid that occurred last Friday. but requesting that their names be omitted for fear of retaliation.
According to the sources ‘account, the National Police seized the workers’ laptops. In addition, several of the employees were summoned to the Judicial Assistance Directorate (DAJ), in the Evaristo Vásquez prison complex, known as “the new Chipote”, where they were questioned about the work they did for the company. None were detained, but the officers warned them that they could be called again.
“Some of the workers questioned in the Legal Aid were questioned about how much money they earned in the company, whether they received bonuses or what their specific functions were,” explained one of the sources.
Mercaplan, a Honduran capital company
The sources explained that, as they were not directly involved in the survey process, they do not know who the clients are who hired the company’s services.
Mercaplan is a Honduran-owned company that conducts market research and studies and brand consulting at the regional level. The first office was opened in San Pedro Sula, in 1987; then they began operations in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, in 1990. Since then they have expanded to other Central American countries and the Dominican Republic.
Some company workers question why the director of Mercaplan has not commented on the raid and there has not been a statement informing about what happened.
CONFIDENTIAL has tried, without success, to know the official position of the company. As of the closing of this information, the various queries made continue without answering.
The affected workers have received advice from lawyers provided by Mercaplan, but beyond that, they do not know what will happen at the administrative level and with their jobs. An estimated 20 people will be unemployed.
Some of the workers who spoke to CONFIDENTIAL, on condition of anonymity, they assure that at first they were “afraid” of being arrested during their appointments to the DAJ, but they decided to go for legal recommendations.
At this key moment in Nicaraguan history, accessing reliable information is more important than ever. That is why, at CONFIDENTIAL, we have kept our news coverage free and free for all, without paywalls. This commitment to citizens would not be possible without the support of our readers. Therefore, we invite you to support our work by joining our Membership Program or by making a donation. By becoming a member, you will receive exclusive products such as eBooks, specialized newsletters and historical digital archives. As a donor, we will send you an annual report on how we invest your financial contribution. Thank you, in advance, for being part of this collective effort to inform our entire community.
