Nicaragua's presidential campaign kicks off, with no rivalsNicaragua's long-time President Daniel Ortega will take part in a presidential election with all his main rivals under arrestMANAGUA - Nicaragua's presidential election campaign officially kicks off on Saturday with incumbent Daniel Ortega's main rivals all under arrest. The 75-year-old, in power since 2007, will be seeking a fourth consecutive term in the November 7 vote despite international condemnation of his government's detention of 37 opposition figures since June. Ortega's government has been accused of political persecution for its rounding up of opposition figures in a series of house and night-time raids since June 2, including seven aspiring presidential candidates. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Nicaragua's November election had "lost all credibility" and accused the Ortega regime of "undemocratic, authoritarian actions." Other than the 37 opposition figures, some 100 other Nicaraguans remain imprisoned for their part in anti-government protests in 2018, which were violently put down by the regime.

Source: Bangkok Post September 25, 2021 01:52 UTC