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Image source, EPA
The opponent Arturo Cruz was arrested this Saturday when he returned from a trip to the United States.
The opposition leaders to Daniel Ortega have experienced increasing difficulties with the justice of that country this week.
This Saturday morning, the authorities arrested opposition presidential candidate Arturo Cruz and, hours later, summoned fellow opposition candidate Félix Maradiaga to testify before the Prosecutor’s Office.
Cruz was arrested upon arriving from the United States at the Augusto Sandino International Airport in Managua for “having strong indications that has attacked Nicaraguan society and the rights of the people“, according to said in a statement the Public Ministry.
Maradiaga reported that he was summoned to appear before the Prosecutor’s Office next Monday, June 7 at 11 in the morning, but that the reason has not been indicated.
“The summons does not specify any criminal cause or the condition in which I am being summoned, which reaffirms arbitrariness and legal defenselessness to which Nicaraguan citizens are subjected, “Maradiaga told the press.
These legal actions take place after last Wednesday the police raided the house and placed under house arrest the also opposition presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorro Barrios.
Chamorro Barrios is the daughter of former Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and was accused on Tuesday by the Public Ministry of the crimes of abusive management and ideological falsehood, both in real competition with laundering of money, property and assets, for her role at the helm of the prestigious foundation that bears the name of the ex-president.
Image source, Reuters
Cristiana Chamorro Barrios is, according to polls, the opponent with the best chance of defeating Daniel Ortega.
In addition, last Tuesday, Maradiaga and Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Cristiana’s cousin and also a candidate for the opposition, denounced that the police had imposed the “house for jail” measure on them.
Of the remaining seven candidates opposed to the Nicaraguan presidency, at least five have reported being victims of harassment by the National Police, according to EFE.
International warnings
President Daniel Ortega, who has governed Nicaragua since 2007, is expected to seek to remain in office in the presidential elections on November 7.
Image source, Reuters
On Wednesday, the police raided and blocked access to Cristiana Chamorro’s home.
However, both NGOs and the International Crisis Group as well as international organizations such as the UN have warned about the risk that an election that does not meet international standards end up aggravating the political crisis in that country.
“We are deeply concerned that Nicaragua’s chances of holding a free and credible election on November 7 are slipping away as a result of measures taken by the authorities against political parties, candidates, and independent journalists, which further restrict civic space. and democratic “, warned, on May 28, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the UN.
For its part, in a report published on May 20, the International Crisis Group expressed concern about the possibility that “Ortega hinders the participation of the opposition and interferes with the results, undermining the legitimacy of the elections and generating more discontent. “
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.