AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Bishops' message for the elections: No to the single party, yes to ideological plurality

Wednesday, 15 June 2016 politics   elections   episcopal conferences   democracy  

Managua (Agenzia Fides) - The Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN), at the end of its meeting yesterday, in which it examined the reality that the country is experiencing, published a special message to the people of Nicaragua, sent to Fides . The document, signed by the ten Bishops present, was read to reporters by His Exc. Mgr. Jorge Solórzano Pérez, General Secretary of CEN.
"As Pastors of the Church - begins the text - we want to offer a word of light and hope to the country in this troubled moment that we are living, because of the recent events that have unfortunately created in many a feeling of insecurity and confrontation, which could undermine the credibility and competitiveness in the upcoming November election, favoring the growth of indifference and absenteeism in the population".
"Any attempt to create conditions for the implementation of a one-party regime in which ideological plurality and political parties disappear is detrimental to the country, from a social, economic and political point of view - continue the Bishops -. It is possible to live in harmony and tolerance, even in the midst of a healthy social and political diversity, which enriches all areas of the nation".
The document, in 5 points, recalls the requests delivered by the Bishops to President Ortega in 2014: "What we asked the President in May 2014 remains valid: ensure in this 2016 a transparent and fair presidential electoral process, in which the popular will has to be expressed, without any doubt; with a system that guarantees every Nicaraguan their voting card before the election and an election process open to observers from domestic and foreign institutions" (see Fides 7,8,14/06/2016) .
The message ends with this invitation: "We urge all Nicaraguans to live this moment with hope and with great civic spirit. The current situation should not increase apathy or indifference, but must be seen as a challenge to build a new society based on law and justice, in which the sovereign will of the people is respected". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 15/06/2016)


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