Nicaragua delivered on Wednesday the credentials of its ambassador to Spain. This is Maurizio Carlos Gelli, a controversial 63-year-old Italian, naturalized as a Nicaraguan.
His appointment has generated criticism and controversy among the opposition to the government of Daniel Ortega and it is that Gelli, according to local media such as Confidentialis the son of a former Italian agent accused of anti-communist operations in the Cold War.
Previously, Gelli had already served as Nicaragua’s ambassador to Canada.
The official website of the Nicaraguan government reports that the diplomat “transmitted the greetings of President Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo” to King Felipe VI, as well as “the interest in strengthening the ties of friendship and commercial relations” between both countries.
The delivery of credentials from Nicaragua to Spain is seen as a change of tone in diplomatic relations. Relations between Managua and Madrid are not going through their best moment due to the repeated denunciations by the Spanish government of the human rights violations committed by the Ortega Administration.
Gelli replaces Carlos Midence, who was called to consultations by Nicaragua in March 2022 for alleged “interference pressures and threats” that “make it impossible to exercise diplomatic work.”
Madrid clarified that Midence’s departure was due to Nicaragua’s refusal to accept the return of its diplomat in Managua, María del Mar Fernández-Palacios.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and activate notifications, or follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
