The Nicaraguan opposition hopes that the rapprochement between President Daniel Ortega’s government and the OAS helps to suspend the elections of November 6th, considered to be a fraud. By achieving this, they could organize new elections in 2017 with transparent and pluralist guarantees. The opposition wants the election process to be free, transparent, with new electoral authorities and international observers.
On October 16th, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Nicaraguan government agreed to implement dialogues to address the questioned Nicaraguan electoral process.
The strongest opposition party was excluded from the elections due to a court ruling that anulled the legal representation of Partido Liberal Independiente (PLI), which aimed to lead an electoral alliance.
The ruling cleared the way for Ortega, leader of the Sandinista Front (FSLN), to be consolidated as the only favorite to win the elections, which would obtain his third successive term.
According to the opposition, talks between the OAS and the government are a great opportunity to Ortega to rectify, to suspend the electoral fraud and start rebuilding democratic institutions in Nicaragua.
Opponents also hope that dialogue with the OAS is not a maneuver from the government to avoid international criticism.