TODAY NICARAGUA – The United States assured on Wednesday that the president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, fears “free elections” after a prosecutor’s request to prohibit the presidential candidacy of Cristiana Chamorro, the opponent with the most options to face the ruling party in November, accused of money laundering.
“Arbitrarily banning opposition leader Cristiana Chamorro reflects Ortega’s fear of free and fair elections. Nicaraguans deserve a real democracy ”, said on Twitter the head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken, who is on his second and last day of visit to Costa Rica.
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The Prosecutor’s Office accused Chamorro on Tuesday night of crimes of abusive management, ideological falsehood, both of real bankruptcy with money, property and asset laundering “in addition to requesting his disqualification from public office, for not being in full enjoyment of his civil rights and politicians for being in a criminal process”.
Read more: Ortega regime orders Cristiana Chamorro to house arrest
Chamorro rejected those accusations and considered them a “farce” to eliminate her participation in the presidential elections in November since Nicaraguan law prevents people under criminal investigations or with open criminal proceedings from running for public office.
The action of the Prosecutor’s Office has been questioned by jurists who describe it as “illegal” because that entity does not have the power to request disqualification without a ruling by a competent judge or a resolution of the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE).
Chamorro, 67, daughter of former President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990-1997), has managed the Foundation that bears the same name as her mother since 1998.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the entity presented inconsistencies in its financial reports in the 2015-2019 period.
The opposition party declared her intention to represent the opposition in the November elections, as the sole candidate, and face President Daniel Ortega, in power since 2007 and who would seek a fourth successive term.
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