The Sandinista Front (FSLN) padded the results in the Nov. 6 general elections by at least 150,000 ballots, stealing 8 to 12 additional seats in congress to get their legislative super majority, according to the final report released today by local electoral watchdog group Ethics and Transparency.
The election-monitoring group found that in the nearly 4,000 voting stations where the Sandinistas counted the ballots alone after expelling opposition poll watchers or blocking their entry to voting stations, the ruling party’s vote tallies were 30 percent higher than they were in other voting stations that were properly monitored by election observers and poll watchers.
But in their zeal to “win” a majority in the legislative National Assembly, the Sandinistas apparently over-cooked the vote, according to Ethics and Transparency. As a result, for the first time ever in the electoral history of a presidential democracy anywhere on planet Earth (a 50-year recorded history of more than 200 elections worldwide) there were more ballots cast for lawmakers than for the president—a statistic that Ethics and Transparency finds particularly suspicious given the fact that the candidates for president and congress were all on the same ballot.
Having failed the basic sniff test on 17 of 18 measurable indicators in four areas subject to technical evaluation, Nicaragua’s electoral process was “neither fair nor honest” and the official results “don’t deserve any credibility given the systematic and intentional irregularities” by the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE), according Ethics and Transparency’s final evaluation of the dubious 2011 poll.
Ethics and Transparency, the local affiliate of Transparency International, was not accredited to monitor the elections, but did so anyway. Even before the first results were announced on election day, the group released a statement saying the elections were a failure from a technical point of view because they did not meet the minimal international requirement for free and fair elections—a criticism that has been increasingly echoed by other organizations that monitored the electoral process.
Even before the election day shenanigans, Ethics and Transparency claims the elections had already failed to meet minimal requirements for citizen participation because the Sandinista-controlled CSE denied 198,073 voting-age citizens access to their cédulas (voting identification cards). In the majority of the cases, citizens were denied their cédulas because they belong to opposition parties, Ethics and Transparency found.
“Our conclusion is scientific,” said Ethics and Transparency executive director Roberto Courtney.
Sandinistas blame problems on U.S. lies
Meanwhile, in Washington, Denis Moncada, Nicaragua’s ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), lashed out against the hemispheric body Monday morning, calling the findings in last week’s preliminary report on Nicaragua’s elections “false” and part of an alleged plot to destabilize the Sandinista government.
“It is inacceptable and reprehensible that some members of the OAS’ electoral mission of accompaniment gave false information and contributed to the plan hatched by those who want to destabilize Nicaragua,” Moncada said.
Moncada promised that the Sandinista government will provide proof “so that people know the truth and can correct the false information so the OAS isn’t used to develop and strengthen the plans of destabilization by agents in the U.S. embassy who are working with the opposition.”
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What a bunch of sour losers! This whole bs of fraud and here and there cries is getting to be to old. Now comes this clown who is no impartial judge to take his turn. Where were they for the stolen elections of 1996 and 2001? If the sandinistas loose, everything is OK, if the sandinistas win is fraud! Every poll gave the sandinistas a vast majority victory, all of a sudden none of them is worth a penny? Come on…………get over it!! Go back to planning being a real opposition, think seriously your strategies, offer something worthy to the people and try your best for your next chance 5 years from now. GROW UP and quit crying like little girls, that daddy is not going to help you change anything this time.
Too bad the constitution of the country had to be usurped in order for Daniel to run again for office!!
@Sayayuca
Please address constitutional authority to permit Daniel to run a second term
Please address EyT point concerning more votes for congress than president …an outcome never before occurring in any election on the planet.
Please address why if the FSLN were so far ahead in the polls why they would need to banish opposition observers from numerous key polling stations.
Your vitriol and acrimony in your tone and choice of words speak loudly to your own self admittance that the elections were rigged!
Well, I’m waiting for Sayayuca responses to Ryson Jones comment.
Article 147 of the Nicaraguan Constitution strictly prohibits any citizen from holding the executive office for a) more than 2 terms during his life; and b) any citizen from consecutvie re-election or back-to-back terms of office.
The reason being, to prevent people like Somoza, you know DICTATORS from taking power.
However, with cleaver sinistry Ortega has by-passed the only branch of gov’t that he did not yet control: the Legislative branch. Through presidential decree he has extended indefinitaley the term periods of 23 public officiales in key places, inlcuding: Chief of Police – Aminta Granera (assuring the police stay on the side lines), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court – Rafael Solis (assuring he declared Art. 147 of the Const a “violation of his human rights and judicial cover and weaponary against opossition) and the Supreme Electoral Council – Robert Rivas, assuring the following irregulaties in his favor:
-2.6 million ballots printed EXTRA
- thousands of DEAD people voted
-non- accredidation of over 17% of opposition fiscales
-no national observers accredited, limitid and restricted international observation: OAS reported that their observers weren’t allowed in 20% of their monitoring stations at the time of opening and closing (vote count)
-the physicall(acts of violence) and verbal (threats of violance) removal of opposition fiscals when the vote count was set to begin
- the constitution of the voting center at 3-4am and not 6am as LAW dictates in order to exclude opp. fiscales
- Sandinista Youth members voting 2 and 3 times
- 400 is the number of voting ballots per voting stations as law dictates, some stations had 500-800 and even 1,000 ballots cast in favor of mr ortega
- vast intimidation…..and the list continues…..
So, no!!! this is not common all over the world, except maybe amongst Ortegas’ allies like Cuba (oh wait they’ve never voted or held elections before), Lybia (never had elections either and oops, look what happened to him), Venezuela (democracy has been tore down), Bolivia, Syria,..
Buy yeah you are right, most of us have come to accept the realtiy that short of an uprising, on january 15th when Ortega takes power, Nicaragua will begin a new form of government and a return to the past: the Ortega-Murillo Dictatorship.
Ortega y Somoza, son la misma cosa…..
“Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absoluttely”
Every election since 1990 has had both national and international observations and monitoring. Including the election of 2006.
If Ortega would not run ilegally and unconstitutionally, using the Poder Judicial and CSE as his personal weapons in order to do some of the following:
-2.6 million ballots printed EXTRA
- thousands of DEAD people voted
-non- accredidation of over 17% of opposition fiscales
-no national observers accredited, limitid and restricted international observation: OAS reported that their observers weren’t allowed in 20% of their monitoring stations at the time of opening and closing (vote count)
-the physicall(acts of violence) and verbal (threats of violance) removal of opposition fiscals when the vote count was set to begin
- the constitution of the voting center at 3-4am and not 6am as LAW dictates in order to exclude opp. fiscales
- Sandinista Youth members voting 2 and 3 times
- 400 is the number of voting ballots per voting stations as law dictates, some stations had 500-800 and even 1,000 ballots cast in favor of mr ortega
- vast intimidation…..and the list continues…..
…And allowed for full observation of ALL and ANY national and internationals observation… then, the results of the election, whatever they may be would have to have been accepted by ALL!! Just like in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2006…. there you have it 24 (inlcuding BOTH ortegas terms since ’84) years of democracy down the drain… simply because
Ortega y Somoza son la misma cosa….
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”!
sic semper tyrannis
Hey winner you can undermine with words….we are cry babies, also rats as we were told by the one that was found in the sewage…hope to see u in Siuna
Nicaragua has proved it is a corrupt Banana Republic and Ortega is just as corrupt as Somoza ever was. Three cheers for El Pedophilia Presidente!
SAYAYUCA, you speak EXACTLY like the Juventud Sandinista teens that chant on the streets. The reason I say this is because you have no basis in reality and you attempt to hide that which is obvious to anyone experiencing the elections: they were ilegal and fraudulent. Several OBJECTIVE (as opposed to your very subjective and irresponsible appraisal) and measureable situations evidence this disgusting November 6 elections. If you are not able to see this, it is because you probably think that anyone not in favor of Ortega is evil and wrong, and that “ANYTHING GOES” as long as Ortega remains in power. My friend, those are only delusions of grandeur! What you fail to see is that most people are not like you and Ortega. They want actual JUSTICE and actual PEACE and economic growth for Nicaragua. You would not understand because being an extremists and a paranoid has blinded you to what most of Nicaragua needs and wants.
See, I happen to believe that who lives in another world is people like you, not connected with reality, the reality of everyday life on the streets of the poorest of barrios and communities all over Nicaragua. I don’t know you, but I have the feeling that you have never experienced hunger or life in poverty, so of course is easy for you to call me “extremist” and “paranoid”, without even knowing me. But that’s OK, I can take it. I,m proud of who I am and where I come from. Now, as for speaking like somebody else, nobody can beat you at being a crying echo of La Prensa, El Nuevo Diario, the PLI-MRS, and all the other troupe of puppets being handled by their bosses in the EmbaCIA. So goes for your buddies John Wood, El Macho Raton and ryson Jones.
And how much money do you think the Ortega family has stolen from the Nicaraguan People? Ortega is just another in a long line of thieves that Nicaragua has had to suffer. Do you have a Mercedes- Benz? Do you live in a million dollar house? Your hero, Ortega the pedophile, is as rich as a Sultan.
Poor sayayuca, you don’t see it, right? Ortega NEEDS you, the poor, and his cleverness is to maintain you happy with gifts, bonos, migajas, t-shirts, boxing and baseball, AND to maintain you poor as his electors base. Keeping this in balance is not easy, but he and she are good in it. If there would be a non poor educated people, he would be out! So he says Pobres Arriba, instead of working for the erradication of poverty. Which even in Nicaragua would be possible, if once in life (of this country) there would be a government seriously interested in development, progress, environment and GENTE.
[...] religious leaders and the business chambers have all cried foul. Electoral watchdog group Ethics and Transparency claims the Sandinistas stole 150,000 votes and as many as eight to 12 seats in the [...]
My dear Vladimir your optic is so short sighted that all you can see is $ signs everywhere. I don’t receive money from nobody to express my opinions. That may be too much for you to understand, that there are people in this world that does things for others without expecting to get any reward, of any kind, back. Your little brain has to resort to personal offenses, since it can not bring any important ideas to the debate. As for you ‘ buena cosa” (I have to give it to the ND, they have never censored any of my comments and have published every one to this point) I’m thankful for the opportunity to come here and express myself and increase the number of entries on my shit list, where, to grant your request, you occupy now a preeminent position.
Gentlemen
I had to delete a few comments from this forum because they overstepped the bounds of civil discourse. The forum is here to discuss, debate, propose, assert and even argue ideas and issues. Dissention and disagreement is fine (and it’s healthy), but threats and nasty personal attacks against other members are not welcome. If you want to criticize content, be my guest. But if you want to get into a pissing match, please go somewhere else; there are plenty of other places on the Internet for that. Thanks.
Having previously observed an electoral fraud in 2008 for the municipal election in Nicaragua, I find the enforcement and interpretation of the laws in Nicaragua a very serious problem for the wellbeing of democracy. The future of the institution is in grim. Not only the CSE’s policy and procedures sorely lacking, also the rest of the institution such as the Asamblea Nacional and Corte Suprema de Justicia. Laws, policies and procedures in the world of Daniel Ortega are interpreted loosely depending on the political affiliation. The laws are used to bend the will of the people that are searching for the rule of law. What we can do as an international community when there id to teeth to bring Ortega into compliance to follow the rule of law. It’s no wonder that civil society and the international community alike are getting frustrated or leaving Nicaragua because of the abuse of the laws by the Ortega’s government. Fraud, corruption, nepotism/favoritism, and the manipulating the electoral result is beyond any proof. These are just some of the happenings plaguing Nicaragua that we are facing as an international community in Latin America. There is a trend in political power, current presidents are bending the law to extend their period in power. Deeply hurting the democracy, in addition to creating a low self-esteem with in the community. Ortega-Chavez are sending a clear message into the masses, you either with me or against me. Passive aggressive repression is the rule; do we have you have to accept the fraud? How we move forward?
As I see it, the problem isn’t that people aren’t cognizant of what is happening. They simply don’t want to become targets of retaliation and lose their job. FEAR is great motivator in silencing the non-traditional opposition. To whom do we go to when even our opposition have turned a blind eye. In addition all the institutions in Nicaragua forbade you to communicate with them citing the laws. I understand that we Magistrates are simply public servants. Who do we contact when the institutions, opposition and political parties, don’t have the willingness to address these issues? Is violence the only option that we have?
I suggest that the international community send a clear message. These next few months are bound to be difficult with frauds and manipulation of laws throughout Latin America. Democracy in these countries are especially difficult. For example, how can you justify having a Asamblea controlled by one political party due to fraudulent election? How can the international community not have a clue as to what goes on?
Developed countries such as US, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and the European Union makes a big deal about making sure the democracy functions and state are adhered to the laws. Electoral fraud doesn’t interfere with their business. These same countries that are in the ALBA are quick to repress and jail all the real opposition, yet they are doing business as usual with the above countries. That is a double standards, by excluding these countries from the rules they expect us all to follow. Where is the leadership in that? When you make the rules make sure you are willing to follow them yourself. Stop doing business with these governments that are corrupted.
Well said Bosawas…
Dear Bosawas and others,
The USA is one of the only countries that invades other countries in order to consolidate their interests. Against all morality and ethic with out mentioning complete ignorance of the voice of the majority of Nations.
You know….you can just read official USA declassified documents. This will make US citizens realize that the truth is out there. Please don’t watch the x-files. It gives you square eyes. They should be round and sound.
Look at the details of who is financially contributing to Ethics and Transparency. Not independent at all. Actually, agenda setting stuff. Chomsky could sing you a lullaby on the subject.
Latin Americans should be proud since their leaders are seriously trying to unify Latin America. The world is changing and Latin America is getting ready for the future through Union. They are awakening. South to South cooperation and less dependency to the traditional master.
Even if these votes are not accepted for the count the FSLN still has a clear majority. If you look at the details of the infamous US election with both son’s of a Bushes being key players. This election is insignificant.
The military-industrial complex is laughing.
What the US invasion has to do with a domestic electoral fraud…I have no interest to bring US in the mixt but my suprise that u mention it are u hiding something. Si no la debes no la temes
Latin America should be proud of what taking us to the new social capitalism…I guess u are part of the benefits of the new socialism-solidarity- dude do your revolution in the USA do not come to us with your left wing rhetoric. You need to be in a conflict, go to a country and take you ideology elsewhere…this is a simple violation of the constitution and we will deal with it as we have….do not worry the US will not invade. Is the stupidity of the ideology that will invade your erratic behavior as a government. In other words the USA made Ortega comit a fraud because of :
USA is one of the only countries that invades other countries
Please don’t watch the x-files rodrigo
Latin Americans should be proud of FIdel Ortega Chavez Evo… make line for an egg…
US election with both son’s of a Bushes being key players. This election is insignificant.
Is a good argument to justify all the violation of human rights
I am just a product of my environment
It’s amazing that most people don’t understand the tactical manuvering to set the whole electorial process in the first place. From the “Pact” that allowed a 35% vote to win a presidentcy, to 2 major elections to stack the major mayorial seats and representatives. What a “think tank”, mowing down all opposition without bloodshed, just a smooth coup from democratic “Babyhood” to “predictable ballot results. It’s set now, Daniel doesn’t have to run anymore, Putin didn’t either.
[...] Unfortunately for the Sandinista strongman, the point of concurrence is that his government must be held to account for Nicaragua’s Nov. 6 electoral flop. [...]
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