Nicaragua elections “a sham” – Human Rights Watch

The director of the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, José Miguel Vivanco, labeled the presidential elections that took place Sunday, November 7, in Nicaragua as “a sham.”

Vivanco, through his Twitter account, recalled that these elections are held amid the “arbitrary” detention of 39 opponents and critics of the government of President Daniel Ortega.

Among that group of detainees, there are seven presidential candidates and the vice-presidency of the sectors opposed to Ortega, who is seeking another presidential term after 14 years in power.

The human rights defender also recalled that these elections in Nicaragua do not have international observers or the foreign press.

“It is essential to redouble international pressure to demand the release of political prisoners and the re-establishment of democracy in Nicaragua,” said Vivanco.

The 13,459 polling stations installed throughout the country opened at 7:00 am local time (8:00 am Panama time) for a total of 4.4 million voters to vote.

In these elections, 90 deputies will also be chosen from a Congress that, like all powers of the Nicaraguan State, is under the control of Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo.