Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the political situation in Nicaragua; and what representations they have made to the government of Nicaragua following the arrest of opposition politicians in June.

The UK is concerned by the unacceptable actions of the Nicaraguan authorities in preventing opposition candidates from taking part in November's presidential elections. The arrests represent yet another anti-democratic development in Nicaragua at the behest of President Daniel Ortega, further depriving the people of Nicaragua of the right to choose their own political leaders, and parliamentary representatives freely.

Since the Nicaraguan authorities' lethal clampdown of protests in 2018, the UK has regularly voiced its concern over the country's deteriorating human rights, and democratic situation. On 4 June, the UK issued a statement condemning the arrest and disqualification of potential presidential candidate, Cristiana Chamorro. A number of international partners have expressed the same concern. We continue to call on the Nicaraguan authorities to support the steps necessary for upholding the rights of all Nicaraguan voters to exercise their right to vote freely, safely, and without interference; to ensure that all political parties, their chosen candidates, and supporters can campaign freely, and safely in advance of this year's elections; and to ensure that journalists and the media are allowed to operate impartially, and without restriction.