The Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL) expresses its strongest condemnation of President Daniel Ortega’s statements preventing the holding of new elections that would allow the Nicaraguan people to freely choose their leaders through the vote.
COPPPAL ratifies that the popular will expressed at the polls is the fundamental pillar of any democratic system, and therefore urges the Nicaraguan State to convene, in accordance with the law, a transparent and plural general election process where the opposition and its candidates have guarantees of safe participation under conditions of equity, with full legal certainty and under the scrutiny of independent international observation.
The Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean, true to its foundational principles and its historical commitment to the defense of democracy, political pluralism, the rule of law, and the unrestricted respect for the sovereign will of the peoples, expresses its deepest concern and most energetic rejection of the announcement made by the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua to eliminate electoral processes as a mechanism for access and alternation in the exercise of power.
José Eduardo Martell, COPPPAL Vice President for the Central America region, stated that the holding of free, periodic, authentic, and competitive elections constitutes an essential principle of every democracy. The right of peoples to freely choose their rulers cannot be replaced or limited under any excuse by any decision of political power.
He noted that COPPPAL, since its foundation, has maintained that democracy, respect for human rights, the strengthening of political parties, and citizen participation constitute non-negotiable pillars. These principles, reaffirmed in its programmatic documents and its Strategic Agenda, compel it to clearly express its rejection of any decision that implies a democratic setback.
He stated that the suppression of electoral processes represents a very serious precedent for the region and contradicts the democratic values that inspire Latin American and Caribbean political integration. No political project can place itself above the sovereign right of citizens to decide periodically, through the free vote, the course of their countries.
Consequently, he pointed out, COPPPAL:
Expresses its firmest rejection of the announcement to eliminate electoral processes in the Republic of Nicaragua.
Urges the Nicaraguan State to fully preserve the political rights of its people and guarantee the exercise of suffrage as the foundation of every democracy.
Reaffirms its commitment to the defense of representative democracy, political pluralism, alternation in power, and the rule of law as non-negotiable principles of our organization.
Latin American history has shown that democracy can only be strengthened when citizens retain the inalienable right to freely decide their destiny through authentic elections. COPPPAL will maintain its firm commitment to the defense of that principle, which is essential for democratic coexistence in Latin America and the Caribbean.