Nicaragua Passes Law to Sideline Adversaries in 2021 Election

An ice cream vendor walks by a mobile health clinic displaying a picture of Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega (R) and his wife Vice-President Rosario Murillo (R) in Managua on April 14, 2020 during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. INTI OCON/AFP via Getty Images

Nicaragua’s National Assembly on Dec. 21 passed a law to prevent people whom the government believes financed attempts to oust President Daniel Ortega, or encouraged sanctions against his officials, from standing in 2021 general elections.

The Law in Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty, and Self-Determination for Peace was backed by 70 votes from Ortega’s ruling Sandinistas in the 92-member assembly.