17 de febrero 2025
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On February 13, 2025, the new European Parliament legislature passed, by an overwhelming majority, the strongest resolution condemning the Ortega-Murillo regime. Among other things, it calls for the revocation of the new constitution, the launch of investigations by the International Criminal Court into high-ranking regime officials for crimes against humanity, and the application of the democratic clause to expel Nicaragua from the Central America-European Union Association Agreement.
“It was a strong, nearly unanimous resolution that clearly shows the position of European citizens and the European Parliament. It’s also a message to the people of Nicaragua that they are not alone,” says Spanish MEP Leire Pajín, a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, who promoted the resolution alongside the European People's Party, the Liberals, and the Greens.
In an interview on Esta Semana, aired on CONFIDENCIAL’s YouTube channel due to TV censorship in Nicaragua, the Spanish socialist MEP highlighted Spain’s solidarity, noting that the country had granted nationality to 143 Nicaraguans, part of more than 480 individuals who have been declared stateless by the Ortega-Murillo regime.
“Statelessness is the most cruel and unacceptable expression of what this Nicaraguan regime is doing to its own citizens. That’s why it’s especially important that, in addition to using all international sanctions mechanisms, we offer a warm welcome to these citizens so they feel embraced in Spain and Europe. They are our brothers, and we will stand by them every step of the way,” said Pajín.
The European Parliament's resolution on February 13 endorsed one of the strongest condemnations of the Nicaraguan dictatorship. How was it possible to secure majority support from the different political groups on Nicaragua in this new parliamentary legislature?
Indeed, we recalled during the debate on this resolution that the European Parliament has spoken out on seven occasions to denounce human rights violations and the erosion of basic democratic elements in Nicaragua. This time, what we wanted to make absolutely clear is that the European Parliament, almost unanimously, strongly rejects every step the Nicaraguan authorities are taking against democracy and the people of Nicaragua. It was a powerful, near-unanimous resolution that clearly shows the position of European citizens and the European Parliament.
During this parliamentary debate, were there any significant objections? Is there any European political group that still defends or justifies the human rights violations of the Ortega regime?
Not at all. In the case of Nicaragua, and certainly even more so after the latest constitutional reform, there has been virtually unanimous support. There may be some nuances regarding language, certain tools, or how to approach future solutions. But there has been no disagreement about the facts, and as I said, these have been strongly condemned.
Moreover, the work we did, from the various groups that proposed this resolution—the Liberals, the European People's Party, the Greens, and the Social Democrats—was aimed at finding that broad majority, trying to craft a resolution that everyone felt comfortable with, because we agreed on the most important points. We were united in the strong condemnation of the situation and in sending a very clear message to the authorities that we will not tolerate this new constitutional assault against the people of Nicaragua and human rights. But it’s also a message to the people of Nicaragua that they are not alone. We are with them in this process, and we will continue to stand by them. They have our full support.
The resolution calls for the revocation of this new Political Constitution, which was approved two weeks ago but has not yet been published in La Gaceta. What are the implications of this Constitution for MEPs, especially considering it introduces the figure of "Co-presidency" and eliminates the separation of powers?
This is the final step in the culmination of a process aimed at suspending all the basic pillars of democracy in Nicaragua. The fact that it concentrates absolute power in Ortega and Murillo clearly shows their intentions. Therefore, for the European Parliament, this is absolutely unacceptable. They have our strong condemnation. This is not acceptable in a democracy, and it sends an unequivocal message of rejection, as well as a message of commitment to the people of Nicaragua.
That’s why we also talk about diplomatic sanctions against this reality, as well as support for the victims, the opposition, NGOs, Catholic organizations, and democratic citizens. We will stand by them, help them, and of course, offer them a place of refuge. I also want to highlight the role of countries like Spain, which from the very first day have welcomed the Nicaraguan people, granting nationality to political exiles (those who have been stripped of their nationality) and accepting them into their society. That’s why we also urge other EU member states to follow this path, to open their arms and support Nicaraguan citizens who are suffering repression and human rights violations.
Indeed, this weekend marked two years since the imposition of statelessness and the stripping of nationality from 94 citizens. Last week also marked two years since the stripping of nationality from 222 political prisoners, and Spain has made this extraordinary gesture of solidarity with Nicaraguans by offering access to Spanish nationality. What does the crime of statelessness mean from the perspective of the European Parliament?
It is the most unacceptable step of all because it strips individuals of their most basic right: belonging to their own people, to their own identity. Therefore, it is the cruelest and most unacceptable expression of what this Nicaraguan regime is doing to its own citizens. That’s why it’s especially important that, in addition to using all diplomatic and international sanction mechanisms, we also offer a warm welcome to these citizens, so they feel embraced in Spain and Europe. They are welcome, they are our brothers, and we will stand by them every step of the way.
This European Parliament resolution calls on European nations to promote and carry out investigations before the International Criminal Court against high-ranking regime officials for crimes against humanity. The UN Human Rights Experts Group has also called on European and Latin American governments, as well as others, to initiate proceedings before the International Court of Justice for violations of treaties signed by Nicaragua aimed at preventing statelessness and torture. What room is there in these international courts for such actions against Nicaragua?
The Parliament obviously does not have the competence to sanction in this area, but it can urge the appropriate and competent authorities to do so. That’s why it sends a very clear message in the fight against impunity.
Fortunately, the international community has established instruments like the International Criminal Court to end the impunity of those who violate human rights and democracy worldwide, as is the case in Nicaragua. That’s why we are making an explicit call for these mechanisms to be used, so that no corner of impunity remains, and all human rights and democratic violations we are witnessing can be judged.
The other demand included in this resolution is directed at the European Commission, urging it to apply the democratic clause to separate Nicaragua from the Central America-European Union Association Agreement. Are there conditions for adopting this kind of action and political decision?
All association agreements, trade agreements, and political agreements always include a human rights clause. This is always one of the demands the European Union puts on the table when negotiating bilaterally with different regions of the world. It’s important to remember this, especially since we’re in the middle of discussions about the association agreement with Mercosur, which also includes these kinds of clauses, and they are becoming broader—environmental clauses related to forests and biodiversity, social clauses concerning labor rights, indigenous peoples, gender equality, and human rights. When these human rights realities are not fulfilled, there are different mechanisms, depending on the severity, and the suspension of the agreement is precisely considered as a tool to fight impunity for those who violate human rights and democracy.
But these are decisions that have to be made by all the governments of the European Union.
They are consensus-based decisions. The European Union has a governance model where, on one hand, there’s the European Commission, and on the other, the European Council, which consists of the 27 member countries. Of course, such measures need to be taken by consensus, and also within the framework of the dialogue with Central America in which these agreements are made. But the fact that there are already clear voices calling for this direction is an important step—a pressure that didn’t exist before, and that moves in the right direction.
This debate that took place this week and the resolution issued by the European Parliament come in a context where all the news in Europe is focused on President Trump’s initiative to make a deal with Putin over Ukraine. On the other side, we have the emergence of U.S. politics in Europe. How does the issue of Nicaragua manage to be included in the European Parliament’s agenda amid these other crises?
This shows the European Parliament’s commitment to Latin America in general, and to Nicaragua in particular. It also demonstrates the great work that social organizations and exiles are doing in the European Parliament, helping us see the reality of what they are living through.
It’s also the commitment of a significant part of the European Parliament, especially those of us who are linked to Spain, but also many other countries that have a firm commitment to Latin America and human rights. In recent days, we’ve discussed a lot about the European Union’s strategic autonomy, especially after Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. administration, and the alliances the EU must form to strengthen itself in a world that is increasingly polarized, with a U.S. administration making decisions that are completely contrary to what was previously done and that harm the EU’s interests.
In that complex and complicated global context for us, Latin America is the natural region for a clear and strong alliance with the European Union. That’s why it’s so important to us because we believe in a democratic Latin America, a commercially strong Latin America, but above all, a free and equal Latin America.
The U.S. administration has made some decisions recently that significantly harm global equality, the fight against poverty, and democracy, such as the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and its announced withdrawal from multilateral bodies like the World Health Organization. This is a lethal blow to humanity, but it’s also a huge blunder for U.S. foreign policy, and I’m convinced it will reduce its ability to influence the global stage.
The European Union must respond in an intelligent and forceful way, and it must become one of the leading regions in guaranteeing international humanitarian law, international cooperation, the fight against poverty, and the guarantee of multilateralism, peace, and the fight against conflicts. That’s why, this week, we’ve been very firm in demanding that the European Union go in this direction.
What is the next step after the approval of this resolution on Nicaragua?
Our work doesn’t end here. The work is about following up through the different mechanisms and dialogue spaces we have with the member states and the Commission, as well as in the various international and multilateral spaces where we are present. Therefore, we will continue demanding everything that the resolution has approved and ensuring that it is put into action as soon as possible.
This article was originally published in Spanish by Confidencial and translated by our staff. To get the most relevant news from our English coverage delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Dispatch.
