The Regional Office for Central America of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OACNUDH) expressed its "deep concern" over the approval of constitutional reforms in Nicaragua driven by President Daniel Ortega. According to the entity, these modifications eliminate the separation of powers and political pluralism, concentrating more power in the Presidency to coordinate the legislative, judicial, and electoral bodies.
The OACNUDH representative for the region, Andrés Sánchez Thorin, stated: "Political pluralism is an essential guarantee for citizens to freely choose their representatives. People should be free to support or oppose different political options without fear of manipulation or undue influence that affects their autonomy."
The National Assembly of Nicaragua approved in a second and final legislative session the constitutional reform that grants total power to President Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, culminating in a transformation of the State and eliminating the balance of powers. The reform was unanimously approved by the 91 members of the National Assembly, with no opposition.
The OACNUDH also expressed concern over restrictions on freedom of expression and press, as well as the elimination of fundamental labor rights such as the right to strike. The reform weakens essential procedural guarantees and grants the Executive the ability to order military interventions without additional checks, consolidating security forces linked to human rights violations.
The United Nations Human Rights Experts Group on Nicaragua denounced that the constitutional reforms are a "death sentence for the rule of law and fundamental freedoms" in the Central American country. Ortega, in power since 2007, has been criticized by authoritarian governments and accused of electoral fraud and the elimination of the opposition.
The OACNUDH is willing to provide technical assistance to Nicaraguan authorities to incorporate international human rights standards while urging respect for democratic principles and the fundamental rights of the population.
