Mexico City, May 21, (dpa/GNA) – The Nicaraguan government on Thursday said it launched a money laundering investigation into presidential hopeful Cristiana Chamorro six months before new elections.
The accusation against Chamorro, daughter of former president Violeta Barrios, comes two days after President Daniel Ortega’s government also withdrew the legal status of the opposition the Democratic Restoration Party (PRD).
Chamorro aspires to represent a united opposition front in the elections, scheduled for November, although she is not formally a candidate yet.
The Interior Ministry summoned Chamorro on Thursday for alleged irregularities between 2015 and 2019 in the financial management of the foundation that bears the name of her mother, who was president from 1990 to 1997.
According to an official statement, the foundation, which had to close in February due to legal restrictions on financing civil organizations, “seriously breached its obligations” and there are “clear signs of money laundering.”
“It seems to me that it is a macabre accusation, part of the monstrosity that this regime mounts us to prevent citizens from working for Nicaragua and ultimately to prevent us from voting freely in November,” Chamorro told local media after attending the summons.
Meanwhile her brother, journalist Carlos Chamorro, said that police entered the offices of the El Confidencial newspaper, which he runs, “illegally searched” the premises and detained a cameraman, who was released seven hours later.
President Daniel Ortega, a former revolutionary, has ruled Nicaragua since 2007. Ortega’s wife, Rosario Murillo, is now vice president.
The government and its supporters have repeatedly taken action against critics and independent journalists.
GNA