Nicaragua President is using law to ban political candidates in the election: What you need to know

Picture Courtesy: The Tico Times

1. Elections are scheduled to be held in Nicaragua in November and current President Mr. Daniel Ortega is using treason law to arrest his political contenders.

2. Journalist Miguel Mora has been detained by police. He is the fifth potential candidate arrested so far since June 2.

3. Mr. Mora, a former director of the opposition TV channel, has been detained on charges of inciting foreign interference in internal affairs and requesting military intervention.

4. The other four who have been detained except Mora, are

- Felix Maradiaga, academic and political activist

- Juan Sebastian Chamorro, economist

- Cristiana Chamorro, daughter of ex-president Violeta Chamorro

- Arturo Cruz, former ambassador

- In addition to these, police also detained other senior political leaders.

5. Daniel Ortega played an important role in the armed struggle against dictator Anastasio Somoza and won elections in 2006, 2011, and 2016 and is now expected to stand again in the upcoming November elections.

6. Under Treason Law, the government has the power to ban candidates from running office if they are doubted as traitors to Nicaragua and can be sent to prison for 15 years. In recent years there is discontent against Mr. Ortega and critics say he is using the law to target his opponents.