Washington - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced a bipartisan resolution in support of the democratic aspirations of the Nicaraguan people and calling attention to the continuing deterioration of constitutional order in Nicaragua.
Among other measures, the Senate resolution condemns the recent fraudulent reelection of Daniel Ortega as president, calls on Nicaraguan authorities to investigate and prosecute acts of election day violence, urges the Administration to take immediate measures to encourage the restoration of constitutional rule, and urges the immediate issuance of an Organization of American States (OAS) report detailing pre-electoral constitutional irregularities that helped secure a victory for Ortega.
"Daniel Ortega's unconstitutional grab of the Nicaraguan presidency is a serious deterioration of democratic values in the country and poses a serious threat to the Nicaraguan people and the region," said Senator Menendez. "It is time for the United States and the international community to pay attention to what is occurring in Nicaragua and take action to ensure that the democratic values in the region aren't further eroded."
"For years, Daniel Ortega and his cronies have eroded Nicaragua's democratic institutions," said Rubio. "Their recent efforts have accelerated this democratic decline and reached a tipping point that demands a strong reaction from the United States and the mobilization of our allies in defense of the Nicaraguan people's human rights. I urge the Administration to speak out and act with urgency against the assault on democracy and constitutional order taking place in Nicaragua."
The full text of the resolution is available here.
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