OAS Secretary General urges action for illegitimate elections in Nicaragua

The elections in Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega was reelected with dozens of imprisoned opponents and illegal political parties, are illegitimate and the Organization of American States (OAS) must act, urged the secretary general of the regional bloc, Luis Almagro.

“We reject the results of the illegitimate elections in Nicaragua”Almagro tweeted.

“I urge OAS countries to respond to this clear violation of the (Inter-American) Democratic Charter during their Assembly”General, he added, alluding to the regional document in defense of the institutionality that has been in force since 2001.

The situation in Nicaragua, plunged into a deep political crisis after the massive protests against Ortega that broke out in 2018, will be debated in the OAS General Assembly, the annual hemispheric conclave that will be held from Wednesday to Friday in virtual format with Guatemala as host.

Almagro already asked in June to activate the mechanisms to apply Article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter to Nicaragua.

This provision establishes that a country can be suspended from the OAS if two thirds of the member states decide that there has been a “breakdown of the democratic order” and “diplomatic efforts have been unsuccessful”To reverse the situation.

The suspension must be voted on in the General Assembly, the highest organ of the OAS, and would take effect immediately. But the Charter establishes that the suspended country must continue to fulfill its obligations “particularly in the area of ​​human rights”, And that the OAS will continue to carry out diplomatic efforts to restore democracy.

In his tweet on Tuesday, Almagro published a report from the OAS Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy, describing the “erosion and breakdown of democracy in Nicaragua“And demands the”urgent”Release of those detained for political reasons.

The report indicates absence of separation of powers, electoral authority “co-opted“By the Executive, freedom of expression”under attack”, Government critics imprisoned, opposition political parties canceled, lack of independent electoral observation, exiled dissidents.

“The international community must demand the cancellation of the elections on Sunday, November 7, and call for the holding of a new electoral process”, He concludes.

“The release of all political prisoners has to be a priority”Almagro had tweeted on Monday, after meeting with the wives of Félix Madariaga and Juan Sebastián Chamorro, two of the seven presidential hopefuls arrested.

Almagro, who on Friday received the credentials of the new permanent representative of Nicaragua to the OAS, Arturo McFields, also reaffirmed on Twitter his “commitment to work on the agenda of democracy, human rights, security, development and access to vaccines” In Nicaragua.

His tweet published on November 7 provoked the mocking reaction of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on the same day, who retweeted Almagro’s message and his photo with McFields along with dozens of laughter outburst emoticons.

Ortega, who came to power at the polls in 2007, was reelected for a fourth term with almost 76% of the vote, according to official figures.