While all his serious rivals had been taken into custody, Daniel Ortega was re-elected on November 7 for a fourth term at the head of Nicaragua. The United States announced on Monday financial sanctions against the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and nine senior officials of the country “In response to the sham elections orchestrated by the president, Daniel Ortega, and the vice-president, Rosario Murillo”.
The American punitive measures are targeting the prosecution, accused by the US Treasury in a press release of having “Unjustly arrested presidential candidates and opened investigations against them, which prevented them from running, and therefore undermined democracy”. The latter also target members of the government, including the Deputy Minister of Finance, Jose Adrian Chavarria Montenegro, and the Minister of Energy and Mines, Salvador Mansell Castrillo.
The elections: a “comedy” according to Biden
The mayors of the cities of Matagalpa, Jinotega and Esteli, accused by the Treasury of being involved in the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in 2018, are also affected by these sanctions. Any assets in the United States of these people are frozen, and access to the American financial system is barred.
US President Joe Biden called “Comedy” the elections which unsurprisingly led to the re-election of Daniel Ortega for a fourth term, with his wife Rosario Murillo as vice-president. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Washington was considering new sanctions.
“The Ortega regime uses laws and institutions to arrest members of the political opposition and deprive Nicaraguans of their right to vote”US Treasury Sanctions Officer Andrea Gacki said in a statement. According to her, “The United States is sending an unambiguous message to President Ortega, Vice President Murillo and their first circle [de proches], demonstrating their support for the people of Nicaragua in their calls for reforms and a return to democracy ”.
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