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CENTRAL
AMERICA |
Nicaragua’s National Assembly
Paralyzed
MANAGUA - Growing tensions between President
Ortega and Nicaraguan opposition parties
have effectively shut down the legislature.
For a second day in a row, the minimum
number of lawmakers required to conduct
business failed to show up at the national
assembly.
The dispute arose following an executive
decree, issued on January 9, which allows
certain government officials to remain in
office beyond their legally mandated terms.
The opposition contends that the Ortega’s
decree is unconstitutional and will allow
ten magistrates of the electoral council,
four Supreme Court justices and five
auditing officials, among others, to stay in
office beyond the current fiscal year.
The president’s ruling Sandanista party and
numerous opposition groups are blaming each
other for this week’s setbacks and neither
party is willing to assume responsibility
for the shutdown. A recent spate of
political disputes has continually
jeopardized the work of Nicaragua’s
legislature. So far this year, only four
ordinary sessions have been held and only
one law, four decrees and a single
resolution have passed. |
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