Votes In Nicaragua “Are Counted Beforehand” Criticizes Writer and Former Ortega Vice-President

In Nicaragua votes “are counted in advance” says Nicaraguan writer and form Ortega vice-president in  1985, Sergio Ramirez.

While President Daniel Ortega seeks his third successive term in office in the November 6 presidential elections, without international observers, who have been declared ‘non grata’ by the President himself  or “credible opposition candidates”, Ortega’s almost absolute concentration of power is maintained, said Ramirez in an article published Thursday.

“There never will be in the coming months, an enthusiastic and proven election campaign in the streets and on television screens or opinion polls that show trends of votes that can change from one day to another or debates between presidential candidates capable of affecting these surveys.

“The only demonstrations will be of the official candidate, with all available state resources, and behind the propaganda apparatus of the ruling party capable of flooding the streets with flags and posters and slogans and spots  on radio stations and TV under official control.” writes Ramirez.

Despite the “bought” election, the Nicaraguan write assures there is not real threat to the security of the hemisphere or business in Nicaragua. “The regime relies on its partnership with the private sector which has learned not to fear the virulent speeches against Yankee imperialism and capitalism by Commander Ortega. The golden rule of this relationship is that political issues are excluded from the negotiation tables when it come economic issues, adjusted to within the framework recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” he writes.

Under this premise, the writer said “it is as if the votes in favour of Ortega are counted beforehand. It is as if the November election this year has already happened,” writes Ramirez.

According to the Nicaraguan writer in his opinion piece titled in La Prensa, “Tigre Suelto” (Loose Tiger), “everything has been decided in advance for Commander Ortega to win for the third time

“Under this conception of absolute power, the regime is showing increasingly intolerant, as seen in the recent deportations of foreigners, including US citizens, who come to investigate issues such as poverty or the Grand Interoceanic Canal,” he said.

“The US  knows that behind the fiery rhetoric of Ortega there is no real threat to hemispheric security interests,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez is a Nicaraguan writer and intellectual who served in the leftist Government Junta of National Reconstruction and as Vice President of the country 1985-1990 under the presidency of Daniel Ortega. Born in Masatepe in 1942, he published his first book, Cuentos, in 1963. He received his law degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua of León in 1964, where he obtained the Gold Medal for being the best student. In January 2000, he was awarded the first Narrative Prize José María Arguedas granted by Casa de las Americas based in Havana, Cuba. He has taught at the University of Maryland from 1999 to 2000 and in 2001, and has been visiting professor at various prestigious universities in the United States, and Europe.

The Ramirez opinion article (in Spanish) in La Prensa can be found here.

www.sergioramirez.com
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