U.S. Cites ‘Significant Irregularities’ in Nicaraguan Elections

The Nicaraguan elections weren’t conducted in a “transparent and impartial manner,” said State Department spokesman Mark Toner.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega was elected to a third term, defeating radio show host Fabio Gadea by almost 30 percentage points, according to Nicaragua’s electoral board.

“We agree with the European Union electoral mission that the Supreme Electoral Council did not operate in a transparent and impartial manner,” Toner said in an e-mailed statement on Thursday. “We also share the concerns of the Organization of American States electoral mission regarding irregularities in the electoral process and on election day itself, and we join the OAS in calling upon Nicaraguan authorities to investigate acts of violence perpetrated on election day.”

“All of these actions, and a lack of full accounting of ballots cast, reduce our confidence in the outcome of the elections,” Toner said. “We also lament any loss of life as a result of the election and reiterate the EU’s call for all parties to resolve their disagreements through peaceful means.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Terry Atlas in Washington at tatlas@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva at msilva34@bloomberg.net