
Nicaragua votes in elections panned as 'parody' by international observers
CNN
They've been called "a parody," "a sham," and "the worst possible conditions" for a vote, but Nicaragua's general elections went ahead on Sunday anyway -- the first since a wave of popular demonstrations rattled the country in 2018.
The government of incumbent President Daniel Ortega has taken no chances this year, spending the past months blocking political participation of potential rivals and closely controlling the electoral process. The septuagenarian strongman is widely expected to claim a fourth consecutive term at the polls this weekend, alongside his vice president and wife, Rosario Murillo.
According to Nicaraguan state media, voters turned out across the country to cast their ballots for president and members of the national assembly. "Massive participation in all the municipalities," reported government-run outlet El 19 Digital, which described long lines conducted in "order, peace and tranquility."