Nicaraguans try to reach US despite sanctions 3:13
(CNN Spanish) — The day of municipal elections ended this Sunday in Nicaragua with conflicting views: while the authorities appreciated a good turnout, several independent organizations noted a low turnout and denounced the arrests of opponents and irregularities during the process.
Presiding Supreme Electoral Council Judge Brenda Rocha said in official digital media this Sunday that she had verified the presence of voters in constituencies: “We have seen the influx in all voting centers and we hope this Citizens’ Day will continue.”
Meanwhile, the opposition blue and white National Unity showed on its social media streets and polling stations in the departments of León, Masaya, Carazo and Waspán, which were completely empty during the day. CNN could not independently determine the turnout.
President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, voted near their home in Managua. Ortega later told official media, “Nicaraguans, women and men, men and women, who know that this vote is a vote for peace, beyond the party being voted for, vote for Nicaragua and vote for Nicaragua, it’s you voting for peace”.
These elections will elect mayors, deputy mayors and members of municipal councils from 153 municipalities across the country, according to the Supreme Electoral Council, a body that enabled 3,106 voting centers that would be attended by 3.7 million Nicaraguans over the age of 16. The day began this Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and lasted until 6:00 p.m. local time with the closing of the meetings and the subsequent transmission of the election documents to the computer center.
According to a preliminary report by the independent observatory Urnas Abiertas, published on its website this Sunday, the local elections were held “under the absolute territorial control” of the ruling party, since, according to the organization, “public employees, opposition figures and citizens acts generally observed block by block by the ruling party, either to force them to vote or to harass them and prevent any resistance”. In addition to the ruling Sandinista Front, five other political parties are taking part in these elections, which represent the opposition as collaborators with the government considered.
In 63% of the polling centers monitored by this political organization, “it is advisable to set up checkpoints on the outskirts from where political actors from the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) monitor and control who comes to vote”.
In addition, in 42% of polling stations observed by open ballot boxes, citizens complained of inconvenience because they were not on the electoral roll. “In some cases, people who do not appear on the register are attacked and expelled from polling stations because they are told they are putschists, since ‘only opponents do not appear on the register'”.
Open ballot boxes assured that political proselytism is reported in 41% of polling stations.
The Supreme Electoral Council authorities have not officially responded to these complaints. They are expected to present a report on the results of the elections this Monday.
Open Ballot Boxes confirmed in its report that from November 1st to Sunday afternoon the arrests of 17 opponents in 6 departments of the country were confirmed.
The National Police has not officially reported the arrests of citizens in connection with the elections. CNN is trying to get more information.