France demanded on Friday the release of Cristiana Chamorro, the main opponent of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, and her reinstatement in her civil rights.
Read also: Nicaragua: the main opponent, Cristiana Chamorro, under house arrest
"
We learned of the house arrest of Ms. Cristiana Chamorro on June 2 and the suspension of her civil rights, rendering her ineligible for the general elections in Nicaragua in November,
" said the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. communicated.
“
France strongly condemns these measures which are incompatible with an electoral process, free, sincere and transparent.
She calls for their annulment and the immediate release of Ms. Cristiana Chamorro
”, who appears to be the most serious competitor of the Nicaraguan Head of State Daniel Ortega.
"
Macabre farce
"
The United States has also denounced the decisions of the Nicaraguan authorities.
The 67-year-old journalist aims to defeat Daniel Ortega at the polls, as did her mother, Violeta Chamorro 31 years ago.
But the rising star of the opposition has been targeted for several weeks by a judicial investigation for money laundering which she denounced as a "
macabre farce
" mounted by the authorities to prevent her from being a candidate for the presidential election of the November 7, when Mr. Ortega, in power since 2007, is expected to run for a fourth consecutive term.
Read also: Nicaragua institutes life imprisonment against feminicides
"
These decisions are part of a degraded climate resulting from several measures adopted since the end of 2020, which hamper fundamental freedoms and are accompanied by unacceptable pressure against the opposition, independent media and civil society
", according to the Quai d 'Orsay. "
France calls on the government of Nicaragua to respect its international commitments in terms of human rights and fundamental freedoms
", continues the spokeswoman, while Paris had already denounced last week the "
serious attacks
" to freedom of the press in the country.