This weekend (Feb 27 &28m 2021) two opposition leaders announced their candidacy for the Presidential elections of Nov 2021, Juan Sebastian Chamorro, who until shortly was the Director of the Civic Alliance, and Felix Maradiaga, a leader of the National Coalition. A somewhat surprising candidate is Cristiana Chamorro, daughter of past president Violeta and until recently the director of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation. She announced her candidacy a couple weeks prior, and this interview gives insight into her motivation. She also leads the first polls on those candidates.
Cristiana Chamorro: “Rosario Murillo is afraid of even her own shadow”
By Carlos Larios, La Prensa, Feb 22, 2021
Cristiana Chamorro Barrios, daughter of the former president Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, surprised Nicaragua this past January 12 by announcing that she is willing to participate as a primary candidate for the Presidency of the Republic if the country requires it, if the forces opposing the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo achieve unity and leave aside sector and personal interests.
That is why she left the leadership of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation, an organization that closed down operations so as to not subject itself to the Orteguista Law of Foreign Agents, and has tried to have an impact from different scenarios so that there might be a peaceful outcome to the social, economic and political crisis of Nicaragua. In this interview with La Prensa she talks about the attacks from Vice President Rosario Murillo, the venting of the former political prisoner Amaya Coppens, and her proposal to President Biden.
When you suggested that they send a mission to Nicaragua to understand what is it that Ortega needs at this moment, what were you referring to exactly?
The first thing that I said in the Interamerican Dialogue, as a Nicaraguan citizen who has carefully read the declarations of the new administration, is that I hope that multilateralism is truly activated. It implies a much more democratic and effective mechanism than the bilateralism and unilateralism of his predecessor. And within that framework, I propose that the new Government send a high-level mission so that, along with the OAS, they might sit down with Ortega to talk about the political requirements and electoral assistance that is needed for a reform that would ensure clean, democratic, transparent and credible elections.
It is a legitimate mechanism of support to the democratic strengthening of the region. Visits from multilateral missions headed by an envoy of the White House should not surprise anyone. We Nicaraguans know every well what electoral missions are, they have come many times to Nicaragua and have done excellent work. The OAS recently was present for the elections of the United States, Ecuador and next Sunday (Feb 28) they will be present for the legislative elections in El Salvador.
Let us recall that in their first press releases the Biden Administration said that they were in favor of a democratic outcome in Nicaragua, that they wanted to strengthen civil society and respect for human rights. It is an official statement that we should take maximum advantage of, take them at their word and propose that they come to confirm what was said, because a press release is not the same as putting into practice what one says.
It is true that we all know that Ortega wants to remain in power using force, issuing anti-democratic laws and fraud, with the dream of leaving el Carmen [president´s residence] as Castro or Chavez, his idols and mentors. Apart from what he wants, we demand a peaceful outcome through elections, with full public freedoms, without political prisoners, the right to vote for all including those in the diaspora, and exiles with a safe return. We are going to achieve this increasing national and international pressure, taking him at his word and in this, taking the “new era” of the Biden administration at their word.
Being realistic, the government is not talking to anyone, and much less with the opposition. I think that it is important to open channels of communication. I remember that Ortega has always said that he sits down “with the owners of the circus” and not with us, because he wants to entertain the world importance that we know he does not have. And I want to clarify, because here “saying what you said and you did not say it, but they say that you said it” is used a lot now. I do not think that friends from the United States are the owners of any circus and much less of us. Obviously, we Nicaraguans are the ones who are going to have the last work in this difficult path, where we have to reach an agreement on many things. I personally believe in the politics of dialogue and in knowing what the other party wants, where it is situated. In the 90s, in order to achieve the difficult triple transition we adopted a principle of the Spanish transition, and it is the following: an imposed reform will explode in your face, but one that is accepted by your adversary is one that is lasting.
Do you think there are no conditions in this moment for participating in elections?
Currently the conditions do not exist for participating in elections. If organized people protest in the streets, which is a universal right, the anti-riot police patrols pull up who, along with armed parapolice, savagely repress, beat people who are mobilized, exercising their constitutional right to protest, they arrest them, abuse them and violate their human rights without the least amount of embarrassment. We have more than one hundred political prisoners and several leaders under house arrest. In my opinion, the most obvious expression that we have a serious problem of freedom is that in Nicaragua there is no right to raise the national flag.
It is a very serious situation that must be resolved with the support of the international community. I do not like to talk about minimum conditions, because that is risky, what Nicaragua needs is that public liberties be restored, the right to demonstrate, that political parties and organizations not be repressed nor dissolved because they hold a meeting in a home, to run without fear of being persecuted or inhibited from running, with the right to freely register as an alliance, and that it be the people who freely decide with their votes who will preside over the next Government. It is very simple, that Ortega comply with the agreements from March 2019: we need a free country.
Do you think announcing your candidacy for the Presidency has been premature?
As a Christian, not just in name by also in the Catholic religion that I am from, I believe that the times do not belong to you, nor can you impose yourself on those times. I have learned with life that we do not control anything, not even our circumstances, but we do control the way we respond to them. I respond to mine saying yes to Nicaragua, because I believe that I can achieve the unity of the political forces, along with the aspirations of the majority of the population that has no party.
The experience of having lived in the 80s in civic resistance from the leadership of La Prensa and being part of the process of the 90s, motivates me to give all I can contribute in this third opportunity that we have to achieve a democracy, and with the acquired experience, end forever the cycle of dictatorships. I am doing it because I love Nicaragua for Nicaraguans and I believe that we can win with a large majority and achieve the change to democracy, economic and social development that we all want. I am sure that Nicaragua is ready to build a large political center which is what I believe we need to achieve, where all of us are equal before the law, and extreme postures are diminished which have caused these cycles of violence and dictatorships like that of Ortega.
Aristocracy and the opinion of Amaya
Do you believe that the population sees you as a person of the aristocracy, as Amaya Coppens pointed out?
I am not ashamed of my last name, nor of having been born in the home of my parents who gave us the privilege of living in an constant political school. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner there listening to the voice of the people in La Prensa and learning to fight four decades of the Somoza dynasty. I bear with pride and gratitude to God for having been born in this cradle built in the midst of jailing, exile, censorship and the terrible pain of having to sacrifice everything for the freedom of Nicaragua, like the blood of such a beloved person as our father. We grew up committed to the defense of public liberties, human rights, democracy with political pluralism, social justice and economic development. We learned as children to say yes to Nicaragua.
In my parents´ home I knew nothing about “aristocrats,” but I did learn about being democratic, freely expressing ourselves, respecting the thinking of others and being consistent with your ideas. I understand that the aristocratic governments of the XVIII, XIX and XX centuries which I have only seen in the movies, took positions above the people because of the presumed intellectual wisdom of a few. In current times I find these terms out of place, but I respect those who say it with good or bad intentions. Freedom of expression is an essential part of democracy and my family and I have dedicated our entire lives to defending freedom of press and expression. I do not imagine an aristocratic government respecting the freedom of expression.
What is your opinion about what was published by Amaya Coppens?
Amaya is a paradigm of the civic struggle in Nicaragua, she has demonstrated that she is an authentic and brave young woman who deserves all of our respect. I have commented to my children that everything comes out naturally for Amaya Coppens, from participating in a protest, to ridiculing the Police, who several times have taken her as a political prisoner, and she simply smiles and looks at them like they are from outer space.
Her publication has a complaint that deserves being heard, because it is the voice of youth for whom we need to restore their hope again in Nicaragua, the opportunities to be able to finish their studies, empower their talents and successfully practice their professional careers in a Nicaragua with a future for everyone. In my personal case, I have asked her for a private conversation because I am very interested in going deeper into the thinking of youth like her who we should encourage to continue expressing themselves freely.
Attacks of Murillo
Do you think that Rosario Murillo is afraid of your candidacy? Why?
Rosario Murillo it seems to me is afraid of her own shadow, because she knows that her husband is defeated, and without Ortega her absolute power will end. It would seem that the idea of going to elections and beating her overwhelmingly terrifies Murillo, as we did in 1990. With insults and slander to my family and mother, she has shown her fear of my candidacy, because there is no doubt that if there are free elections, together with Nicaraguans and the consensus of the political blocks we are going to beat Daniel Ortega who, as you know, does not govern but only represses using the Police, paramilitaries and anti-riot police.
What is the difference from the other candidates?
Well, I am a woman and I understand that there is no other possible woman as a candidate to the Presidency, that is a significant difference. For me, all the candidates are very good and are prepared for the position that the aspire to, and I value their willingness to serve. We women in public service have a tendency that the school of being mothers and daughters teaches us. We learn to be inclined to discernment, to listen to each side and not to control. As heads of family, we develop the skill of opening spaces for consensus, being inclusive and above all things leaving to one side the issues that separate us to place in the center what unites us. We know how to keep our feet on the ground, manage triumph with humility as well as our capacities and limitations. I think that positions are not made by their titles, but the people who give dignity to the position building trust among the parties.
In this month I have confirmed that by saying yes to Nicaragua a lot of people have gotten inspired with the idea of going out to vote. I identify with that 65% of the population who are not in political organizations, who have their hopes in the next elections for there to be a change in government. I take advantage to tell you that, in contrast with the other candidates, I do not have a party or political organization, or as they say, a platform, but I do support the Hagamos Democracia initiative of supporting the one candidate who comes out of a selection process that takes into account the population and the political forces. What I did not see in that document is how we are going to act in the fact of the inhibitions that the regime is threatening against all the candidates.
What do you think about the preferential position that you have obtained in the last surveys in spite of not belonging to a political party or opposition group?
I am grateful for the confidence expressed in me, it is a response that increases my commitment to place my knowledge, experience, potential and energy in whatever is needed from me to rescue Nicaragua for Nicaraguans.
Ortega´s Fortune
Do you think the presidential family is oligarchical, and have obtained their wealth through exploitation by politics?
The president and vice president designated by the Supreme Electoral Council after fraud have turned themselves into a repressive force. They do not have a proposal for Nicaragua other than repressing to keep themselves in absolute power. Concerning the abuses and the wealth, there are many investigations of international and journalistic bodies that have demonstrated more profoundly that the governmental corruption is enormous in size. But I prefer to say that the next government will have to request international support to establish a special prosecutor who would investigate the truth of the events as well as the crimes against humanity, because justice is only achieved with the truth of what happened, the repair of the damage to the victims, and never allow the repetition of more crimes of this nature. As you know my family is also a victim of an unpunished crime, and we know what it means to have that open wound, that can only be halfway healed when there is transitional justice and you are able to achieve a system that ensures its non-repetition.
Cristiana´s Plan
What will be the focus of your plan of Government?
The first decree will be no more political prisoners nor exiles. Apart from that, demolishing el Chipote[1] and opening the borders for the safe return of those in exile. I believe that governments are not just one person, but a team of men and women committed to an agreed upon plan. Currently there are several initiatives for a country vision and programs for a democratic government. We have the one from the Group of Proposals for Nicaragua, the one from COSEP, the Civic Alliance, Blue and White Unity, the one from INCAE and even the proposal from the bishops in their different pastoral letters. I think that all have to be consolidated into one, and achieve a country agreement with the principal political forces.
This does not mean that I do not have my own ideas about how to lead a Government focused on respect for human dignity and people´s freedom, building a new national culture that would promote understanding in democracy and renovating the institutional framework. Where justice, dialogue and truth are the moral and legal premises for a new vision of the nation with unrestricted freedom of expression and access to public information, respect for the environment, seeking the true unification of the country and a national commitment sustainable over time with a generational and gender equity approach in public policies.
In summary, along with the nine pillars of democracy that I already gave you in another interview, I would seek consensus on the following 10 programmatic aspects: 1) Modernization of the State, democracy and human rights. 2) Sustainable economic development with social equity. 3) Government decentralization and municipal autonomy. 4) Education, culture and sports. 5) Health, social security and housing. 6) Agricultural production and the environment. 7) Citizen security and national defense. 8) Development infrastructure and projects. 9) Foreign policy and international relations on the basis of mutual respect. 10) Development of the autonomous regions of the Caribbean.
[1] Name for jail for political prisoners used by both Somoza and the Sandinistas