The European Parliament has condemned the “authoritarian drift” in Nicaragua and called for more sanctions against Daniel Ortega.

The plenum of the European Parliament, Thursday, called for the European Union to impose sanctions on the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo., to crack down on the country, urged the release of all political prisoners and condemned the authoritarian drift of the Sandinista regime.

in a decision, Parliament expressed its solidarity with the Nicaraguan population and “strongly condemned all repressive actions of the Nicaraguan authorities” against the democratic opposition parties and their members of the press. and other media workers, students, indigenous peoples or human rights defenders and civil society.

Put an immediate end to restrictive measures, repression and human rights violations.The members of the European Parliament, in reference to “the submission of a report on the grave violations committed by the government of Nicaragua since 2018,” requested. To the social eruption against Ortega that began at that time.

In May 2020The European Union has already imposed sanctions on two Ortega advisers and four police chiefs for “serious human rights violations”., by freezing their assets in Europe and preventing them from traveling to the group’s territory.

Today, the parliamentary plenary went further and urged the Council of the European Union and its member states to “Quickly expand the “List of Persons and Entities that Should Be Subject to Sanctions, “including the President and Vice-President of Nicaragua and their circle of close friends, in particular ensuring that the people of Nicaragua are not harmed.”

In a public debate on the situation in Nicaragua on Tuesday, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell stated: “In the next few days, we will raise with the council the possibility of taking restrictive measures similar to those that have already been taken in the past,” he added.

Specifically, he was inclined that these new sanctions “do not affect citizens” and serve to “All the political pressure we can do, with the means at our disposal and in cooperation with the United States, with the Organization of American States (OAS) and with all the countries that share the same interest.“.

As the general meeting asked today,immediately e UnconditionalThe release of “all political detainees arbitrarily detained”, Presidential candidates including Christiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Felix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastian Chamorro, Miguel Mora and Medardo Marina.

Also political leaders Jose Ballet, Jose Adan Aguri, Dora Maria Telles, Hugo Torres, Victor Hugo Tinoco, Violetta Granera, Ana Margarita Vigil, Swin Barahona, Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, other opposition activists, human rights defenders and journalists.

The European Parliament demanded respect for “fundamental legal guarantees, their human rights, and their civil and political rights”.She urged the government to provide “immediate evidence that the prisoners are still alive, as well as their whereabouts”.

Borrell considered Tuesday that the Ortega system “She managed to sow an atmosphere of fear and frustration among the population”, although the EU wants to maintain relations with citizens through existing instruments, such as the association agreement it maintains with Nicaragua.

evenly, Parliament urged the authorities to lift the de facto state of siege, respect the role of the national police as a non-political force, disarm the paramilitaries, and respect the agreements signed with the Civil Alliance. restoring the rights of citizens.

The plenum renewed its call for “re-establishing inclusive dialogue and democracy as the only peaceful solution to the political, economic and social crisis” that Nicaragua is going through.

Therefore, with the approaching date of the next presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 7, Urging the Nicaraguan authorities to immediately amend the electoral law in line with international standards requested by the Organization of American States.

Also to restore legal status The parties that have been denied the right of Nicaraguans to vote and stand for election shall respect and ensure the unrestricted presence of national and international election monitoring bodies.

“For the elections and the government resulting from them to be recognized by the European Parliament, the changes required by the Organization of American States and international organizations must be implemented, in particular the restoration of rights and freedoms that allow for a free, credible and equitable electoral process.The members of the European Parliament concluded.

(With information from EFE)

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