Nicaragua government, opposition restart long-stalled peace talks

The Nicaraguan government of President Daniel Ortega and opposition have restarted long-stalled talks on resolving the country’s political crisis, following the release of dozens of people who had been arrested in anti-government protests last year.

The meeting between the two sides was held behind closed doors in the south of the capital, Managua, on Wednesday. Mediated by the Catholic Church, the talks lasted for about seven hours and will continue on Thursday.

The talks were aimed at easing tensions that began last April with deadly protests over the government’s now-abandoned pension reform.

According to photos released by the opposition, the government was represented by six prominent officials, including the Nicaraguan foreign minister, a magistrate, and several lawmakers.

The Vatican’s representative in Nicaragua, Stanislaw Waldemar Sommertag, told reporters that the two sides had agreed to nine of the 12 points on a preliminary “road map” for the talks, without providing further details.

The opposition has accused Ortega, in power since 2007, of establishing a corrupt dictatorship with his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo.

During the anti-government protests last year, the opposition called on Ortega to step down and bring forward presidential elections, which prompted a crackdown by security forces and armed pro-government civilian groups.

SS