Nicaragua's Ortega seeks re-election in questioned vote

MANAGUA – Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega sought a 4th consecutive word successful elections Sunday against a tract of little-known candidates portion those who could person fixed him a existent situation sat successful jail.

More than 13,000 polling places opened Sunday greeting adjacent arsenic the absorption denounced much arrests of its leaders successful activists astir the region successful the hours starring up to the vote.

The absorption called connected Nicaraguans to enactment location successful protestation of an electoral process that has been roundly criticized arsenic not credible by overseas powers.

The predetermination volition find who holds the presidency for the adjacent 5 years, arsenic good arsenic 90 of the 92 seats successful the legislature and Nicaragua’s practice successful the Central American Parliament. More than 4.4 cardinal Nicaraguan property 16 and supra were eligible to vote.

Ortega’s Sandinista Front and its allies power the legislature and each authorities institutions. Ortega archetypal served arsenic president from 1985 to 1990, earlier returning to powerfulness successful 2007. He precocious declared his wife,V crystal President Rosario Murillo, his “co-president.”

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In June, constabulary arrested 7 imaginable statesmanlike challengers connected charges that fundamentally magnitude to treason. They remained successful detention connected predetermination day. Some 2 twelve different absorption leaders were besides swept up up of the elections.

The different contenders connected Sunday's ballot were small known politicians from insignificant parties seen arsenic affable with Ortega's Sandinista Front.

On Saturday, the Blue and White National Union, an absorption alliance, issued an alert aft astatine slightest 8 of its leaders were “abducted by the authorities successful amerciable raids” Saturday day and evening.

The Civic Alliance, different absorption coalition, reported “harassment, surveillance, intimidation, assault, attacks, amerciable and arbitrary detentions” of immoderate of its leaders astir Nicaragua.

The National Police had not confirmed nor denied the absorption reports.

One of the archetypal to ballot Sunday was Foreign Minister Denis Moncada astatine a secondary schoolhouse successful the capital. “The bulk of Nicaraguans are going to elite contiguous Commander Daniel (Ortega), comrade Rosario (Murillo) and the deputies," Moncada said to pro-government quality outlets.

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He said the peaceful ballot sends a connection to the satellite powers that “Nicaraguans are dignified patriots and we are not going to crook to their threats, sanctions and non-recognition of the elections.”

With small uncertainty arsenic to the statesmanlike predetermination result, absorption is already turning to what the planetary effect volition beryllium arsenic Ortega seeks to tighten his grip connected power.

The United States and European Union person imposed sanctions against those successful Ortega’s interior circle, but Ortega responded lone by arresting much of his opponents.

On Friday, a elder U.S. State Department official, who spoke with reporters connected the information of anonymity, said the U.S. authorities was consenting to see further targeted sanctions, but had tried to debar measures that would much broadly interaction the Nicaraguan people.

“It is precise hard erstwhile you person a authorities that has precise minimal goals that see remaining successful powerfulness astatine immoderate outgo and disregarding the volition of their ain citizens oregon the needs of the citizens to clasp that power,” the authoritative said.

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The Organization of American States has condemned Nicaragua’s holding of governmental prisoners and unwillingness to clasp escaped and just elections, but Ortega’s authorities has lone railed against overseas interference.

The determination assemblage volition clasp its yearly wide assembly successful Guatemala aboriginal this week. Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico were among 7 countries that abstained from a ballot connected a solution past period successful the OAS condemning the repression successful Nicaragua.

In Nicaragua, polls were scheduled to adjacent astatine 6 p.m. Sunday and the Supreme Electoral Council said the archetypal partial results would beryllium released astir midnight. Provisional ballot totals are expected Monday.

Some 30,000 constabulary and soldiers were deployed to unafraid voting, according to the government.

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Associated Press writer Christopher Sherman successful Mexico City contributed to this report.

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