A seventh candidate declared for the presidency of Nicaragua, Noel Vidaurre, was placed under house arrest on Saturday on charges of "
undermining the sovereignty
" of the country, police said, bringing the number of members to 28. opposition detainees.
The arrests of opponents have increased in the run-up to the presidential election on November 7, during which President Daniel Ortega will seek, according to his party, a fourth consecutive term.
Read also: Nicaragua: Ortega neutralizes his rivals in the presidential election
Seven presidential candidates are now detained or placed under house arrest: Noel Vidaurre, Cristiana Chamorro - the head of state's most serious opponent -, Arturo Cruz, Felix Maradiaga, Miguel Moral, Juan Sebastian Chamorro, and Medardo Mairena.
Attack on independence and sovereignty
Along with Mr. Vidaurre, 66, commentator Jaime Arellano has also been placed under house arrest. They are both accused of "
undermining independence, sovereignty, self-determination and incitement to foreign intervention,
" according to a police statement. Noel Vidaurre wanted to run under the banner of the Citizens' Alliance for Liberty (CXL - Liberty). The official submission of applications will take place from July 28 to August 2. But in Nicaragua, a person who is under investigation or arrest cannot stand for election.
First at the head of the Governing Junta, resulting from the 1979 Revolution, Mr. Ortega was elected president in 1984. He was elected again in 2007 and then systematically reelected.
The wide net against the opposition sparked an international outcry.
Daniel Ortega is accused of wanting to make sure he has the field open for a fourth term, despite his unpopularity.
"Criminals"
"
The day when Nicaraguan voters confirm their registration, Ortega and Murillo arrest two other political opponents
," responded on Twitter the head of the State Department for the Americas Julie Chung.
"
Candidate Noel Vidaurre and journalist Jaime Arellano are just the latest victims of a despicable campaign aimed at criminalizing the peaceful opposition
," she added.
The Nicaraguan president affirms that the arrested opponents are neither “
candidates
” nor “
politicians
”, but “
criminals
” who seek to overthrow him with financial assistance from the United States.