Carter Center Statement on Nicaragua Elections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Deborah Hakes, 404-420-5124, dhakes@emory.edu
Nov. 14, 2008

The Carter Center calls on all actors, leaders, and civil and state authorities to seek an expeditious, legitimate, and mutually respectful solution to the claims of electoral irregularities and doubts that have arisen about the administration of Nicaragua's municipal elections. Public accusations and violence are jeopardizing political stability and peace. The Carter Center reiterates its commitment to peace, justice, the rule of law, and democracy in the country.

We respectfully urge the Supreme Electoral Council as the maximum electoral authority to conduct, with full participation of political parties and national observation groups, a transparent review of the electoral results on a national scale to restore confidence in the system and renew credibility in the election. We look forward to the Supreme Electoral Council fulfilling its duties transparently to resolve any requests for review that might arise from electoral results. We urge full transparency and compliance with national legal regulations and international commitments to guarantee justice, the strengthening of democratic institutions, and full respect for the will of the people as expressed through the popular vote.

The Inter-American Democratic Charter signed by Nicaragua on Sept. 11, 2001, establishes democracy as a right of the people and an obligation of the government. The Charter outlines in Article 3 that "essential elements of representative democracy include, inter alia, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to and the exercise of power in accordance with the rule of law, the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections based on secret balloting and universal suffrage as an expression of the sovereignty of the people, the pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, and the separation of powers and independence of the branches of government." Equally important to the practice of democracy are transparency of government activities, integrity, the responsibility of governments in public management, respect for human rights, and the freedoms of speech and of the press.