Congressional representatives from the Sunshine State want to ensure the Ortega regime in Nicaragua won’t be able to access loans from American banks.
On Monday, Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen teamed up with New Jersey Congressman Albio Sires, the ranking Democrat on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, to bring out the “Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act” (NICA).
The proposal “urges the president to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at each international financial institution to use the voice, vote, and influence of the U.S. to oppose any loan for the Nicaraguan regime unless the Secretary of State certifies that Nicaragua is taking effective steps to hold free, fair, and transparent elections overseen by credible domestic and international electoral observers, promote democratic principles, strengthen the rule of law, and respect the right to freedom of association and expression.”
Ros-Lehtinen and Sires rounded up eight representatives from both parties to back the measure including South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan and Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar. Three Republicans from Florida--Carlos Curbelo, Mario Diaz-Balart and Ted Yoho--are co-sponsoring the bill.
The South Florida Republican made the case on Monday as to why the bill was needed.
“This year, Daniel Ortega has denied international electoral observers from the European Union and the Organization of American States from observing the upcoming presidential elections, has expelled U.S. government officials, and has harassed personnel from non-governmental organizations,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “These anti-democratic actions from the Ortega regime are unacceptable and must be met with a strong response from the United States. Ortega continues to violate the human rights of the people of Nicaragua, continues to ignore the Nicaraguan Constitution, and continues to use the judicial branch and the electoral council to hold onto power at any means. This bipartisan bill mandates for the U.S. to oppose international loans to Nicaragua so that Ortega is held accountable for his destructive and repressive actions.”
“The Ortega government has become increasingly flippant towards the democratic ideals it espouses to uphold,” said Sires. “In recent years, crackdowns on political opposition, free press, and police brutality have become the norm. Even more troubling, Ortega continues to stifle any political parties but claims to have ‘free and fair’ elections and has even expelled U.S. government officials and detained and expelled non-government official traveling to conduct research. This backsliding away from democracy cannot go unnoticed, allowing Ortega to continue oppressing innocent people without any consequences.”
