The European Union decided, in early August, to sanction eight Ortega regime dignitaries, including the Nicaraguan president’s wife, Rosario María Murillo Zambrana, and his son, Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo.
The EU sanctions - asset freeze and ban - target fourteen individuals in total and run until mid-October 2021 (see EUROPE 12579/36).
Other officials sanctioned by the EU include the presidents of the Supreme Court and the National Assembly. More information on the identity of those sanctioned: https://bit.ly/388GLxE
The EU justifies its decision by pointing to persistent violations of the Rule of law and the continued repression of the political opposition, including seven potential candidates for the 7 November presidential elections in which Daniel Ortega will seek a fourth consecutive mandate.
On Monday 9 August, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, condemned the decision of the Nicaraguan Supreme Electoral Council to strip the Citizens for Freedom Alliance (CxL), the last remaining opposition political party, of its legal personality. Mr Ortega and his wife “want to win the elections without any competition”, said Mr Borrell, adding that the “the opposition has been eliminated”. He called on them to stop this “autocratic spiral”.
A few days later, the High Representative supported the Spanish government against the accusations of interference in internal affairs made by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)