The OAS met with representatives of the Daniel Ortega regime and the Nicaraguan opposition to discuss electoral issues

A representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) held a meeting Wednesday with the Nicaraguan regime and the oppositionin which they address electoral issues in the midst of the country's worst socio-political crisis in decades.

Head of the Electoral Technical Cooperation Section of the Department of Cooperation and Election Observation (DECO) of the agency, Cristóbal Fernández, began the meeting with a delegation of the government of Daniel Ortega and another of the opposition Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy.

The representation of the regime is directed by the Chancellor, Denis Moncada, and the president of the electoral power, Lumberto Campbell.

The Opposition Alliance delegation is headed by the executive director of the independent research center Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Funides), Juan Sebastián Chamorro.

Upon entering the meeting, Chamorro told reporters that Fernandez would present "a timetable of electoral reforms, from previous requests of the same Civic Alliance ".

For its part, the Sandinista regime indicated that Wednesday's meeting would be a "continuation" of the protocol of agreement signed on February 28 between the government and the OAS.

Upon entering the meeting, Moncada reiterated that the "election promotion issue" of 2021 was not on the table.

The meeting comes in the midst of a crisis that has claimed 325 lives since April 2018, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), asome local groups raise 568 dead, while the executive recognizes only 199 and denounces an attempted coup d'etat.

The Ortega Government has invited the OAS General Secretariat to participate in the negotiating table that concluded earlier this month and has agreed to join us as a witness and companion.

The Permanent Council of the OAS has begun to implement the Inter-American Democratic Charter in Nicaragua, by breaking the constitutional order, which could end with its suspension of the continental body.

The Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, called for the "maturity" of the opposition and the government so that the dialogue flourishes. "We need maturity on both sides, we need people to stop lying to us, we need it, it's very important," said the Uruguayan diplomat during a debate in a university in Washington.

"We do not play, we can not because people 's needs are huge, we have to come up with solutions, so we do not like people participating in a political game with this situation, it does not. is not tolerable, it is not at all acceptable, "he added.

Consulted by the EFE agency, Almagro explained that "All political actors" in Nicaragua have had this behavior and, in a way, have expressed it "all the time".

"And I have an example, one of the negotiating parties asked us to organize a meeting, and then they did not show up at that meeting.. So, are you asking us to organize a meeting and you do not come next? This is the kind of political games that can not be, "he repudiated.

Earlier this month, the Ortega regime invited the Vatican and the OAS General Secretariat, led by Almagro, to participate in the negotiating table with the Civic Opposition Alliance, which brings together different sectors of the society, including farmers, academics and academics. entrepreneurs

One of the conditions imposed by the OAS to testify was the release of "all" people imprisoned since April 2018 during protests against Ortega, which left more than 300 dead and hundreds wounded.

As part of the dialogue, Ortega published 248 protesters, but many of them went under house arrest.

"We need more, we need more of everything, but we need more from the government, because there are some homework that is specific to the government. The government must release all political prisoners as soon as possiblenot as late as possible, "insisted Almagro, who also defended the need for" electoral reforms ".

The Civic Alliance has asked Ortega an advance on the elections, but the executive has refused for the moment.