Nicaragua’s municipal elections this week were a farce. The ruling party won 153 out of 153 municipalities
Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskThe election tops off years of creeping authoritarianism in the country, which is run by President Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla, and Rosario Murillo, his wife and vice-president. Mr Ortega became president in 1979, after taking part in a revolution against the last of the Somozas, a kleptocratic dynasty with American backing which had ruled for 43 years. Mr Ortega lost an election in 1990 and stepped down.
More recently the regime has become bloodier and more brazen. When students and pensioners peacefully protested against the government in 2018, police and Sandinista goons killed over 350 people. Before a general election last year, in which Mr Ortega won a fourth consecutive term, all seven opposition presidential candidates were locked up. Some 219 students, journalists and human-rights defenders are behind bars. Many are in El Chipote, a torture prison in Managua, the capital.
So far Mr Ortega has appeared impervious to pressure. The United States and the European Union have sanctioned several members of the ruling family as well as dozens of their cronies, including Ms Rocha. In October Joe Biden’s administration announced new sanctions on the gold industry, which exported almost $1bn-worth of the metal last year. Meanwhile the regime can no longer rely so heavily on fellow autocrats who once supported it. Venezuela and Cuba are cash-strapped.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
England's Phillips returns and Ortega stars as Man City see off ChelseaQuickfire goals from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez handed Manchester City a 2-0 over Chelsea and safe passage into the Carabao Cup fourth round. On a night when both sides fielded second-string s…
Consulte Mais informação »
Scream 6 star Jenna Ortega addresses how it deals with Sidney's absence'She's missed and thought of.'
Consulte Mais informação »
Daniel Radcliffe Reacts To Alan Rickman's Unfiltered Diary EntriesAlan, the late actor who played Severus Snape, had little faith in Daniel as a child star.
Consulte Mais informação »
Man who nearly died 'served just 3 stone-cold fish fingers' for hospital mealA hospital patient who could have died after suffering from pneumonia and sepsis said he was left ‘in disbelief’ after claiming he was served just three stone-cold fish fingers for his dinner. Hospital staff said ‘there’d been a mess up with the menu.'
Consulte Mais informação »
Buckingham Palace: Man sentenced for trespassing twice'Fixated' Daniel Brydges entered the royal residence's grounds in London twice last December.
Consulte Mais informação »