The United States is willing to impose more sanctions after ‘sham’ elections in Nicaragua

The United States is ready to ramp up sanctions against Daniel Ortega’s regime in Nicaragua after “sham” elections planned for Sunday are expected to keep him in power without a democratic mandate, a senior State Department official told reporters on Friday.

After banning opposition parties and imprisoning almost all other candidates, civic leaders, independent journalists and even old Sandinista allies, Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, are set to keep their top leading positions. What comes next is a “dictatorship,” the senior official said.

The official mentioned that the Biden administration has not used “all the [foreign policy] tools available” and is willing to consider additional sanctions, keeping the focus on individuals and institutions enabling Ortega’s repression. The administration is also looking at imposing pressure on financial institutions and others assisting the Nicaraguan leader.

The senior official also said the administration is carefully looking at broader sanctions because it doesn’t want to impose further “burdens” on the already impoverished population, a common criticism of the comprehensive embargo against the Cuban regime.

President Biden is expected to sign the Renacer Act, which mandates a review of Nicaragua’s membership in the Central America Free Trade Agreement. The accord provides preferential treatment to the country’s exports to the United States.

“We will avoid anything that benefits Nicaragua,” the official said.

The U.S. will maintain its presence in the Central American country and work with international partners and the Organization of American States, of which Nicaragua is a member, to support those who seek a democratic restoration. But removing Ortega’s grip on power will be “a really hard thing to do,” he told reporters.

“We are part of a majority in the region,” the official said, “but it is very hard when you have a government with very limited goals, which are to remain in power.”

Nora Gámez Torres: 305-376-2169, @ngameztorres