(CNN Spanish) – Municipal Election Day concluded this Sunday in Nicaragua With conflicting views: While the authorities appreciated the good level of participation, several independent organizations noted a drop in voter turnout and denounced the arrests of opponents and irregularities that occurred during the process.
Supreme Electoral Council Judge Brenda Rocha confirmed this Sunday in official digital media that she had checked voter attendance in constituencies: “We have seen the influx in all polling stations and we hope this civil day continues like this.”
Meanwhile, the opposition blue and white national unity movement has appeared on the streets of its social networks and voting stations in the provinces of León, Masaya, Carazo and Waspan, completely empty during the day. CNN was unable to independently confirm the level of turnout.
President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, voted near their residence in Managua. Later, Ortega told state media: “Nicaraguans, women and men, men and women know this vote is a vote for peace, and apart from the party voted on, they vote for Nicaragua and vote for Nicaragua, you vote for peace.”
In these elections, mayors, deputy mayors and members of municipal councils are elected for the country’s 153 municipalities, according to the Supreme Electoral Council, an example that enabled 3,106 polling stations to be attended by 3.7 million Nicaraguans over the age of 16. . Sunday started at 7:00 am and continued until 6:00 pm local time, with the conclusion of meetings and the subsequent transfer of electoral records to the computer center.
According to a preliminary report of the independent Ornas Abertas observatory published this Sunday on its website, the municipal elections took place “under the absolute territorial control” of the ruling party, because, according to the organization, “public servants, opposition figures, and citizens” are monitored by the ruling party in general as a bloc. One by one, either to force them to vote or to harass them and prevent any expression of resistance.” In addition to the ruling Sandinista Front, five other political parties are participating in this election, which the opposition considers to be collaborating with the government.
In 63% of polling stations monitored by this political organization “it was indicated that checkpoints were set up in the suburbs, where political activists of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) monitor and control who came to vote.”
Additionally, in 42% of polling stations observed by open polls, citizens deplored harassment for not being on the electoral register. “In some cases, people who do not appear on the register are attacked and expelled from polling stations because they have been told that they are plotting the coup, because ‘opponents only do not appear on the register’.”
Open polls confirmed that 41% of polling stations are reporting political proselytizing.
The authorities of the Supreme Electoral Council did not take any official response to these complaints. On Monday, they are expected to report on the election results.
The open polls confirmed in their report that from November 1 to Sunday noon, 17 opposition arrests were verified in 6 provinces of the country.
The National Police did not officially report the arrest of citizens in the context of the elections. CNN is trying to get more information.
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