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'''General elections''' were held in [[Nicaragua]] on 7 November 2021 to elect the [[President of Nicaragua|President]], the [[National Assembly (Nicaragua)|National Assembly]] and members of the [[Central American Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/es/ortega-confirma-elecciones-en-2021-con-pol%C3%A9mica-resoluci%C3%B3n/a-54180414|title=Ortega confirms elections in 2021 with controversial resolution|work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=15 July 2020|accessdate=10 August 2020|archive-date=22 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822042256/https://www.dw.com/es/ortega-confirma-elecciones-en-2021-con-pol%C3%A9mica-resoluci%C3%B3n/a-54180414|url-status=live}} {{in lang|es}}</ref>
'''General elections''' were held in [[Nicaragua]] on 7 November 2021 to elect the [[President of Nicaragua|President]], the [[National Assembly (Nicaragua)|National Assembly]] and members of the [[Central American Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/es/ortega-confirma-elecciones-en-2021-con-pol%C3%A9mica-resoluci%C3%B3n/a-54180414|title=Ortega confirms elections in 2021 with controversial resolution|work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=15 July 2020|accessdate=10 August 2020|archive-date=22 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822042256/https://www.dw.com/es/ortega-confirma-elecciones-en-2021-con-pol%C3%A9mica-resoluci%C3%B3n/a-54180414|url-status=live}} {{in lang|es}}</ref>

President [[Daniel Ortega]] of the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front]] sought re-election. The election occurred after numerous potential opposition opponents were arrested, disqualified, or forced into exile. In June 2021, police arrested five potential opposition candidates for president: [[Cristiana Chamorro Barrios]], [[Arturo Cruz Jr.]], [[Félix Maradiaga]], [[Juan Sebastián Chamorro]] and [[Miguel Mora (journalist)|Miguel Mora]]. In July, candidates [[Medardo Mairena]] and [[Noel Vidaurre]] were arrested, while [[Luis Fley]] and [[María Asunción Moreno]] went into exile due to threats of arrest.

The deadline for candidates to register was 2 August 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-02|title=Nicaragua party lists presidential candidate despite arrests|url=https://apnews.com/article/elections-caribbean-election-2020-nicaragua-b62c2cbdfb92cb28f943fe853b8e31c0|access-date=2021-11-10|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref> and on 3 August, vice-presidential candidate [[Berenice Quezada]] was placed under house arrest and disqualified. Her party, [[Citizens for Liberty]], and its presidential candidate [[Oscar Sobalvarro]], had their legal status suspended by the [[Supreme Electoral Council (Nicaragua)|Supreme Electoral Council]] the following week, and [[Constitutionalist Liberal Party]] candidate [[Milton Arcia]] resigned in protest.

The elections have been called a [[Election#Sham election|sham election]] by the [[United States]], [[European Union]], multiple [[Latin America|Latin American]] nations, independent election observers and human rights groups due to the intimidation, detention, and disqualification of opposition journalists and politicians, which critics claim to have been made to secure victory for Ortega and his allies.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-08|title=Nicaragua's Ortega wins fourth term in election slammed as 'pantomime'|url=https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20211108-nicaragua-s-ortega-wins-fourth-term-in-election-slammed-as-pantomime|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-08|website=[[France24]]}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last1=Hu|first1=Caitlin|last2=Gallón|first2=Natalie|last3=Alberti|first3=Mia|title=Ortega wins again in Nicaraguan elections panned as 'parody' by international observers|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/07/americas/nicaragua-election-nov-7-intl-latam/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-08|website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20211107-nicaragua-s-ortega-seeks-fourth-consecutive-term-in-sham-presidential-election Nicaragua’s Ortega seeks fourth consecutive term in ‘sham’ presidential election] in france24.com</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Phillips|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/04/nicaraguan-exiles-election-daniel-ortega-dictatorship-rosario-murillo|title=Nicaraguan exiles see vote as step on Ortega's road to dictatorship|date=5 November 2021|access-date=7 November 2021|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Nicaragua's Ortega decries foes who question his re-election|language=en-US|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nicaraguas-ortega-seeks-re-election-after-jailing-rivals/2021/11/08/7599bd90-4051-11ec-9404-50a28a88b9cd_story.html|access-date=2021-11-10|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Rigged': Criticism mounts of Nicaragua's 'sham' elections under Ortega|url=https://news.yahoo.com/rigged-criticism-mounts-nicaraguas-sham-202236121.html|access-date=2021-11-10|website=news.yahoo.com|language=en-US}}</ref>


==Electoral system==
==Electoral system==

Revision as of 02:27, 10 November 2021

2021 Nicaraguan general election

← 2016 7 November 2021 (2021-11-07) 2026 →
Presidential election
Turnout65.23%
 
Nominee Daniel Ortega Walter Espinoza
Party FSLN PLC
Running mate Rosario Murillo Mayra Consuelo Argüello Sandoval
Percentage 75.92% 14.15%

President before election

Daniel Ortega
FSLN

Elected President

Daniel Ortega
FSLN

Parliamentary election

90 seats in the National Assembly
46 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
FSLN Daniel Ortega 75.92 75 +4
PLC María Haydeé Osuna 14.15 9 −5
CCN Guillermo Osorno 3.30 2 New
ALN Saturnino Cerrato 3.15 2 0
APRE Carlos José Canales 1.78 1 0
YATAMA Brooklyn Rivera 1 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
President of the National Assembly before
Gustavo Porras Cortés
FSLN

General elections were held in Nicaragua on 7 November 2021 to elect the President, the National Assembly and members of the Central American Parliament.[1]

President Daniel Ortega of the Sandinista National Liberation Front sought re-election. The election occurred after numerous potential opposition opponents were arrested, disqualified, or forced into exile. In June 2021, police arrested five potential opposition candidates for president: Cristiana Chamorro Barrios, Arturo Cruz Jr., Félix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastián Chamorro and Miguel Mora. In July, candidates Medardo Mairena and Noel Vidaurre were arrested, while Luis Fley and María Asunción Moreno went into exile due to threats of arrest.

The deadline for candidates to register was 2 August 2021,[2] and on 3 August, vice-presidential candidate Berenice Quezada was placed under house arrest and disqualified. Her party, Citizens for Liberty, and its presidential candidate Oscar Sobalvarro, had their legal status suspended by the Supreme Electoral Council the following week, and Constitutionalist Liberal Party candidate Milton Arcia resigned in protest.

The elections have been called a sham election by the United States, European Union, multiple Latin American nations, independent election observers and human rights groups due to the intimidation, detention, and disqualification of opposition journalists and politicians, which critics claim to have been made to secure victory for Ortega and his allies.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Electoral system

The President of Nicaragua is elected using first-past-the-post voting system.[9]

The 90 elected members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods; 20 members are elected from a single nationwide constituency, whilst 70 members are elected from 17 multi-member constituencies ranging in size from 2 to 19 seats. Both types of election are carried out using closed list proportional representation with no electoral threshold.[10] A further two seats are reserved for the runner-up in the presidential election and the outgoing president (or their vice president).[10]

Lists of candidates to the National Assembly and to the Central American Parliament must have an equal number of male and female candidates.[11]

Presidential candidates

Political party or coalition Sandinista National Liberation Front Constitutionalist Liberal Party Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path Alliance for the Republic Independent Liberal Party Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance
FSLN PLC CCN APRE PLI ALN
Candidate
Daniel Ortega
Walter Espinoza
Guillermo Osorno
Gerson Gutiérrez
Mauricio Orué
Carlos Mesa
Political leader Daniel Ortega Walter Espinoza Guillermo Osorno Gerson Gutiérrez Mauricio Orué Marcelo Montiel

Disqualified individuals

Several individuals were disqualified or unwilling to participate in the election, those were challengers including Milton Arcia, who resigned following the controversial ban on the CxL party[12], farm worker leader Medardo Mairena, journalist Miguel Mora, political scientist Félix Maradiaga, economist Juan Sebastián Chamorro, journalist Cristiana Chamorro Barrios, YATAMA activist George Henriquez, Ortega's former Ambassador to the United States Arturo Cruz Jr. and former rebel leader Luis Fley.[13]

Preliminary results

President

In the early hours of 8 November, the president of the Supreme Electoral Council Brenda Rocha reported that with 49.25% of the votes counted, Daniel Ortega's Sandinista Front won the elections, obtaining 74.99% of the votes cast and with a 65.3% turnout. However, independent election observers Urnas Abiertas estimated the turnout was much lower than the results released officially, at only 18.5%.[15][16][4]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Daniel OrtegaSandinista National Liberation Front2,053,34275.92
Walter EspinozaConstitutionalist Liberal Party382,73914.15
Guillermo OsornoNicaraguan Party of the Christian Path89,3113.30
Marcelo MontielNicaraguan Liberal Alliance85,1923.15
Gerson GutiérrezAlliance for the Republic48,1531.78
Mauricio OruéIndependent Liberal Party45,9681.70
Total2,704,705100.00
Valid votes2,704,70594.55
Invalid/blank votes155,8545.45
Total votes2,860,559100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,478,33463.88
Source: CSE, 100noticias

National Assembly

PartyNationalConstituencyTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Sandinista National Liberation Front156075
Constitutionalist Liberal Party279
Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path112
Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance112
Alliance for the Republic101
Independent Liberal Party000
YATAMA11
Total207090
Registered voters/turnout4,478,334
Source: 100noticias, 100noticias CSE

Central American Parliament

PartyVotes%Seats
Sandinista National Liberation Front15
Constitutionalist Liberal Party2
Independent Liberal Party1
Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance1
Conservative Party0
Alliance for the Republic1
Total20
Registered voters/turnout4,478,334
Source: 100noticias.com.ni

Controversy

On 3 August, Berenice Quezada was placed under house arrest and barred from running after an investigation was opened following her comments that were said to be sympathetic to leaders of the attempted coup of 2018.[17]

On 6 August, following a complaint from PLC president María Haydee Osuna and the rest of the PLC board that CxL president Kitty Monterrey was a dual national, the Supreme Electoral Council cancelled the legal status of the CxL and instructed the relevant administrative body to revoke Monterrey’s national identity card.[18] Arcia, the PLC’s candidate, resigned in protest of the PLC’s role in the events; he was immediately replaced by PLC National Assembly deputy Walter Espinoza.[12] On 11 August, the PLC vice-presidential nominee María Dolores Moncada resigned, refusing to continue on the ticket with Espinoza.[19]

On 19 October 2021 Minister of Foreign Affairs Denis Moncada stated that the government would not invite the electoral observation mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), accusing them of being participants in the 2019 Bolivian political crisis. Moncada also said that "[the election] will count on the free participation of legally constituted political parties, which have legal personality and are participating individually or in alliance".[20] Days earlier, the OAS had appointed former Costa Rican president Luis Guillermo Solís as head of the Electoral Observation mission.[21] A group of South American and Spanish communists Ortega and Murillo supporters were invited as "electoral accompaniers", appointed by the Supreme Electoral Council on 28 September.[21]

On 3 November 2021, the Nicaraguan newspaper Confidencial announced that President Ortega banned the entry of foreign press to the country to cover the elections, as in the previous days several journalists were refused entry by the immigration authorities.[22]

On election day there were several protest marches and demonstrations against the elections by Nicaraguans living overseas. In Costa Rica, thousands of Nicaraguan citizens marched through the main streets of the capital San José, considering them to be a "circus and an electoral fraud". The march started at the Statue of León Cortés located in the center of the city and ended at the Plaza de la Democracia. Another group of demonstrators headed towards the Nicaraguan embassy.[23][24][25] In the United States, protests took place in Washington, D.C., chanting slogans such as "Democracy YES, Dictatorship NO" and carrying banners such as "Viva Nicaragua Libre". The demonstrators went to protest in front of the Nicaraguan embassy and then headed towards the headquarters of the OAS to ask international organization not to recognize the election results.[26] Another march took place in Miami, where Nicaraguan demonstrators gathered at the Plaza Rubén Darío to protest, marching to the Nicaraguan consulate general displaying banners such as "If he doesn't leave, we'll take him out".[27] Protests were also registered in several other American cities and states, including Los Angeles, New York City, Houston and Colorado.[28] A march also took place in Madrid, Spain.[26]

The first polling stations opened at 06:38 in Managua, and one of the first to vote was Moncada. There were 3,160 polling stations prepared for the election day.[29] The polls closed at 18:00, with no significant incidents and with an expected low turnout.[30][31]

Reactions

International

  • ALBA-TCP: The integration bloc of 10 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean issued the communiqué, in which it welcomed the reelection of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, and congratulated the legislators elected to the Nicaraguan National Assembly and the Central American Parliament. It also recognized the economic, social and political achievements made by the Sandinista Revolution, which have allowed strengthening better conditions for the progress of Nicaragua.[32]
  •  Argentina: The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement araising concerns over the arrest of opposition leaders and the jailing of protestors, but also respecting the results of the election. [33]
  •  Bolivia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia issued the communiqué "greeting the brother Nicaraguan people for the participation and the democratic vocation in the electoral process of 7 November 2021". It also expressed its "conviction, that with majority participation and respect for the popular vote, democracy is strengthened, as the full exercise of the sovereignty of the people".[34]
  •  Colombia: Colombian President Iván Duque declared that the Colombian Government will not be recognizing the elections in Nicaragua and called for the General Assembly of the Organization of American States to establish a common position on the matter.[35]
  •  Costa Rica: On the same day of the elections, Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado published a tweet in which he did not recognize the result of the Nicaraguan elections because of "their lack of democratic conditions and guarantees" and called on the international community to "promote the democratic process" in that country.[36]
  •  European Union: The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, in a written statement, stated that the EU considers Ortega's reelection to lack "legitimacy" because the elections were held "without democratic guarantees". At the same time it urged the Nicaraguan president to immediately release all political prisoners and to "return the sovereignty of Nicaragua to the Nicaraguan people".[37]
  •  Peru: The goverment of Peru released a statement saying that the election does not "meet the minimum criteria for free, fair and transparent elections established by the Democratic Charter", and has called for the international community to reject the results [38]
  •  Russia: The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov described the calls by Western countries not to recognize the election results "unacceptable", as he considers that the voting was done "in accordance with the law".[39]
  •  Spain: The Spanish government stated that it "refuses to give credibility and legitimacy to the results that may derive from this process", adding that they are a "mockery" and demanded that "all arbitrarily imprisoned political prisoners and demonstrators be released immediately and unconditionally and that their judicial processes be annulled [...] and that it complies with the international commitments contracted in the field of Human Rights".[40]
  •  United States: The White House published a statement in which President Joe Biden accused the elections of being a "pantomime" and that they "[were] neither free nor fair, and most certainly not democratic". He also called for the "regime to take immediate steps to restore democracy in Nicaragua, and to immediately and unconditionally release those unjustly imprisoned".[41]
  •  Venezuela:
    • Nicolás Maduro, in a televised statement, congratulated his counterpart Daniel Ortega for the "good news" and for the "good level of participation and [...] for this day of peace, of participation".[42]
    • Juan Guaidó[a] described the elections as a "fraud".[43]

Others

Notes

  1. ^ Disputed acting President of Venezuela. See Venezuelan presidential crisis

References

  1. ^ "Ortega confirms elections in 2021 with controversial resolution". Deutsche Welle. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020. (in Spanish)
  2. ^ "Nicaragua party lists presidential candidate despite arrests". AP NEWS. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Nicaragua's Ortega wins fourth term in election slammed as 'pantomime'". France24. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b Hu, Caitlin; Gallón, Natalie; Alberti, Mia. "Ortega wins again in Nicaraguan elections panned as 'parody' by international observers". CNN. Retrieved 8 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Nicaragua’s Ortega seeks fourth consecutive term in ‘sham’ presidential election in france24.com
  6. ^ Phillips, Tom (5 November 2021). "Nicaraguan exiles see vote as step on Ortega's road to dictatorship". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Nicaragua's Ortega decries foes who question his re-election". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  8. ^ "'Rigged': Criticism mounts of Nicaragua's 'sham' elections under Ortega". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  9. ^ Constitution of Nicaragua, Article 146. "Ley de Reforma Parcial a la Constitución Política de la República de Nicaragua" (in Spanish). National Assembly. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. ^ a b "NICARAGUA (Asamblea Nacional), Last elections". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  11. ^ Constitution of Nicaragua, Article 131. "Ley de Reforma Parcial a la Constitución Política de la República de Nicaragua" (in Spanish). National Assembly. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Daniel Ortega cancela a CxL y liquida proceso electoral en Nicaragua". Confidencial (in Spanish). 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Another 5 Years for Daniel Ortega?". Americas Quarterly. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  14. ^ "CxL deja fuera al costeño George Henríquez en la selección de precandidatos". Artículo 66 (in Spanish). 16 July 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  15. ^ "El Consejo Supremo Electoral de Nicaragua dio a Daniel Ortega como ganador del fraude comicial con la mitad de las actas escrutadas". Infobae (in Spanish). 7 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Nicaragua vote: Ortega tightens grip on power in 'pantomime election'". BBC News. 8 October 2021.
  17. ^ Miranda, Wilfredo (4 August 2021). "Daniel Ortega impone prisión domiciliaria a Berenice Quezada, la reina de belleza que aspiraba a la vicepresidencia de Nicaragua". EL PAÍS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ^ "CSE cancela la personería jurídica a Ciudadanos por la Libertad y la cédula de identidad a Kitty Monterrey". La Prensa (in Spanish). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "PLC busca candidata a vicepresidenta, María Dolores Moncada renunció a la fórmula". La Prensa (in Spanish). 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Nicaragua descarta invitar a observadores de la OEA a las próximas elecciones". Voice of America (in Spanish). 19 October 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Acompañantes electorales versus observadores internacionales:¿Quiénes son los invvitados del régimen para el 7 de noviembre?". Voice of America (in Spanish). 6 October 2021.
  22. ^ Bolaños Vargas, Roger (4 November 2021). "Daniel Ortega prohíbe entrada de prensa extranjera para cubrir elecciones en Nicaragua". La Nación (in Spanish).
  23. ^ "Nicaragüenses protestan en Costa Rica contra el "circo y fraude" de Ortega". Swissinfo.ch (in Spanish). 7 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Nicaragüenses exiliados protestan en Costa Rica para exigir salida del poder de Ortega". El Financiero (in Spanish). 7 October 2021.
  25. ^ "Costa Rica: Nicaragüenses exiliados protestan por comicios". Association Press (in Spanish). 7 October 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Nicaragüenses protestan en varios países para denunciar el "fraude" electoral". Eldiario.es (in Spanish). 7 October 2021.
  27. ^ Osorio, Sonia (7 October 2021). "Nicaragüenses en Miami repudian las 'elecciones falsas' de Daniel Ortega". El Nuevo Herald (in Spanish).
  28. ^ Belchi, Antonio (7 October 2021). "El exilio nicaragüense en EE. UU. protesta ante el "fraude electoral" del 7-N". Voz de América (in Spanish).
  29. ^ "Abren los colegios electorales en Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega busca un quinto mandato presidencial". Euronews (in Spanish). 7 November 2021.
  30. ^ Salomon, Daina Beth (8 October 2021). "Nicaragua's Ortega set to win election that U.S. blasts as 'pantomime'". Reuters.
  31. ^ "After jailing rivals, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega set to win re-election". Euronews. 8 October 2021.
  32. ^ "ALBA-TCP highlights Nicaraguan people's democratic vocation". Prensa Latina. 8 November 2021.
  33. ^ https://twitter.com/CancilleriaARG/status/1457889400285712387?s=20
  34. ^ "Bolivia saluda elecciones generales en Nicaragua". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia (in Spanish). 8 November 2021.
  35. ^ "Presidente Duque no reconoce las elecciones presidenciales en Nicaragua". El Espectador (in Spanish). 8 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Costa Rica desconoce la reelección de Daniel Ortega". Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 8 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Nicaragua: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union". European Council. 8 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Comunicado sobre la situación en Nicaragua".
  39. ^ "Russia Condemns Western Calls Not To Recognise Nicaragua Vote". Barron's. 8 October 2021.
  40. ^ "El Gobierno de España rechaza los resultados de las elecciones en Nicaragua". Spanish Government (in Spanish). 8 October 2021.
  41. ^ "Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Nicaragua's Sham Elections". The White House. 7 October 2021.
  42. ^ ""Nicaragua tiene quien la defienda": Maduro saluda la segura reelección de Daniel Ortega". El Comercio (in Spanish). 7 October 2021.
  43. ^ "Juan Guaidó denuncia que las elecciones de Nicaragua son un fraude". EFE (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ "Nicaragua election called a "sham" by Human Rights Watch executive". CNN. 7 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Ex presidentes de la región rechazaron la farsa electoral en Nicaragua: "Impidamos a Ortega consolidar su dictadura"". Infobae (in Spanish). 8 October 2021.