Managua, Nicaragua, Nov 21, 2011 / 12:18 pm
Bishops in Nicaragua questioned the legitimacy of the Nov. 6 presidential elections after accusations of fraud and dishonesty were leveled against election officials.
In a joint statement issued Nov. 16, the bishops said Nicaragua’s Supreme Electoral Council was “incapable of carrying out its job responsibly and honestly” and could not ensure a transparent count of the votes that “would leave no doubt as to the will of the people in these elections.”
“As believers, it is our firm conviction that any dishonest action that threatens the sovereignty of the people is not only ethically wrong but also reproachable in the eyes of God,” they underscored.
Although the Organization of American States issued a report declaring that President Daniel Ortega had won re-election by a 62 percent vote, opponents are protesting the results. Clashes throughout the country since Nov. 6 have left at least four people dead and dozens injured, according to police.