“We cannot tolerate political prisoners in any country in the region.

After the controversial vote of the Argentine government, which refrained from condemning the government of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua within the Organization of American States, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Sergio Massa, differentiated himself by noting that “In no country in the region Political prisoners” may “be tolerated.

The OAS Permanent Council passed a resolution condemning the arrest of presidential candidates and restrictions on political parties in Nicaragua and called for the immediate release of all political prisoners.

About 20 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while Argentina is one of the five abstainers. From the government, they argued that the decision was due to the “principle of non-intervention in internal affairs”.

In this regard, Massa has been blunt. “Neither in Nicaragua nor in any country in the region can tolerate political prisoners”, underlined in a presentation to the Inter-American Dialogue, according to statements that reproduce Infobae.

Before heading to New York to continue his tour of the United States, the Speaker of the Lower House said: “Argentina is concerned and occupied with the situation in Nicaragua, it is important that the region engages in the release of political prisoners.

“Nicaragua or any other country should not be able to stop politicians. This is the key to democracy“He attacked. And he demanded more commitment from the member countries of the OAS by stressing that it is necessary “to begin to give them the means to seek solutions in place of the others who believe that they are the solution”.

The OAS resolution

In a virtual meeting, the OAS Council approved the document in which it expressed its “concern at the recent political deterioration” in the Central American country.

The document urges the government of Daniel Ortega to apply all relevant international standards for the holding of free and fair elections on November 7, “including the welcome of trustworthy election observers from the OAS and other countries. “.

Nicaragua, Bolivia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines voted against, while Argentina, Mexico, Honduras, Belize and Dominica abstained.

The resolution came shortly after former Sandinista Deputy Foreign Minister Víctor Hugo Tinoco was arrested by Nicaraguan police on charges of inciting foreign interference, calling for military intervention and celebrating sanctions against members of the government of President Daniel Ortega.

Along with Tinoco, there are 13 opposition leaders detained since June 2, among whom there are four presidential candidates for the November 7 elections.

Criticism of the Argentine vote

The Argentine abstention was badly received by the government of the American Joe Biden.

“We were disappointed that Argentina did not accompany the 26 countries that voted for the OAS resolution on Nicaragua, but we appreciate their efforts to urge Nicaragua to release political prisoners and promote elections. free and fair, ”a US spokesperson told Clarin. Embassy in Buenos Aires who asked not to be cited with the name and surname.

Former President Mauricio Macri added his criticism of the national government.

“Once again, Argentina is silent in the face of human rights violations. In this case, by abstaining from voting in the OAS, she condemns the Ortega regime, which arrested, among others, four presidential candidates, anticipating that the next elections will lack any legitimacy, “he said. tweeted, also referring to Argentina’s stance against Venezuela.

For his part, the former foreign minister of the Macri administration stressed that “it is a mistake and a tragedy for Argentina’s human rights trajectory”.

“The government’s decision does not represent the Argentines. That leaves us on the side of dictatorships and autocracies,” said Jorge Faurie.

The opposition of Ensemble for Change, meanwhile, again demanded this Wednesday that Foreign Minister Felipe Solá appear to MPs to explain Argentina’s position at the OAS.

“The lukewarmness of our Foreign Ministry is unacceptable. She alone must come to Congress to explain why she is protecting the regime of Daniel Ortega, which represses its people and even jails opposition candidates, ”said the vice-president of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the radical Facundo Suárez, in a draft resolution accompanied by other deputies.

AFG