Police in Nicaragua have arrested a key opposition leader. It concerns Cristiana Chamorro, who announced on Tuesday that she wants to run against incumbent President Daniel Ortega in the presidential elections in the fall.
Chamorro was arrested at her home in Managua just before she was due to give a press conference. Her brother writes on Twitter that she is now under house arrest and that officers are still inside.
The Public Prosecution Service wants to prosecute her for embezzling money from a foundation, but according to Chamorro, the accusations were made up to prevent her from participating in the elections. A judge has granted the request of the Public Prosecution Service to prohibit her from participating in the elections.
The leftist Ortega has been in power in the Central American country since 2007. He was also president from 1985 to 1990, after which he was defeated by Chamorro’s mother Violeta. She was president from 1990 to 1997.
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