MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay too says Nicaragua's elections were “illegitimate”

Paraguay's Foreign Ministry unequivocally condemned Nicaragua's “flawed electoral process”

Paraguay Tuesday joined the group of nations denouncing last Sunday's elections in Nicaragua, which were won by incumbent President Daniel Ortega over symbolic candidates while those who could have challenged him either sat in jail or were in exile.

A statement from Paraguay's Foreign Ministry released Tuesday labeled Nicaragua's elections as “illegitimate,” the same word used by Uruguay a day earlier.

The Paraguayan Government has thus expressed its concern over the lack of democratic legitimacy in the Central American country, and announced all solidarity was being pulled back.

“The Government of the Republic of Paraguay expresses its deep concern over the deterioration of the political and institutional system in Nicaragua, aggravated by a flawed electoral process, which culminated in the general elections on November 7, which did not include the due guarantees for the participation of all political actors and attempts against the fundamental freedoms of Nicaraguan citizens,” the Paraguayan diplomatic statement read.

Paraguay also urged the Government of Nicaragua to immediately release political prisoners and demanded respect for freedom, personal integrity and the right to political participation, as well as the full restoration of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Luis Almagro, Tuesday called for a unanimous response against Nicaragua's “clear violation of the Democratic Charter” during the General Assembly.

Nicaragua's socio-political crisis erupted in 2018, after massive protests against Daniel Ortega, who is in office since 2007 and who got nearly 76% of the votes Sunday for a fifth straight term.

Since last May, 37 opposition leaders and independent professionals, including seven presidential candidates, have been arrested and many others have left the country out of fear of imprisonment.