The OAS warns that Nicaragua is heading “towards the worst possible elections”

The Organization of American States (OAS) assured this Wednesday that Nicaragua heading “towards the worst possible elections”, by qualifying as “new attack on democracy“The attempt to disqualify the opposition candidate for the presidency of this country Christian Maria Chamorro Barrios, who has been held under house arrest.

In a statement, the secretary general of the Washington-based agency rejected a disqualification process for Chamorro and considered that this made it impossible “even more the existence of free, fair and transparent elections”.

The OAS ruled after the Nicaraguan Public Prosecutor’s Office accused Chamorro, who is the daughter of former Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990-1997), of the crimes of abusive management, ideological lie, both in competition with money, property and asset laundering.

The prosecution has also called for the disqualification of Chamorro from the civil service, the opposition figure most likely to win the elections next November, according to a poll by CID Gallup.

“Actions like these rob the government and the organizers of the electoral process of political credibility.”, The specified note.

The agency described as “violations of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the OAS Charter“And human rights instruments and international covenants”recourse to the public prosecutor, precautionary and protective measures, politicized treatment of justice and the de facto ban of candidates”.

In this context, he reiterated his call for “the immediate release of political prisoners, to put an end to intimidation and intimidation against opponents”, to restore freedoms and to reorient the country “towards democracy” to through elections under international observation.

Nicaraguan authorities are investigating the NGO Fundación Violeta B. de Chamorro, which closed last February and was headed by Chamorro Barrios.

The Nicaraguan Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that the NGO, dedicated to the protection and promotion of the freedom of the press and of expression, for having “seriously failed in its obligations before the regulatory body, and analysis of financial statements, period 2015-2019 ”and indicates having obtained“ clear evidence of money laundering ”.

Ortega, 75, returned to power in 2007 and has been in power since 2017 with his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo.

(With information from EFE)

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