In an interview with Le Monde, political scientist Manuel Orozco believes that “political power is now concentrated in the hands of a family clan, with the complicity of the army”.
Comments from Orozco:
“Today, there is no longer any political pluralism [since the 2021 elections, only a few parties, characterized by their collaboration with the Ortegas and the Sandinista National Liberation Front, are still legal], and no guarantee of respect for civil rights. The private sector is tightly controlled, the public sector entirely under the influence of the ruling clan, which enriches itself by monopolizing strategic sectors of the national economy such as construction, energy, communications, and infrastructure.”
“Managua’s dependence on Washington is extremely strong, both commercially and financially. A quarter of Nicaragua’s imported products come from the United States. Nicaragua’s main imports are oil and its derivatives (16% of total imports), essential to the country’s economy. The remainder consists mainly of industrial machinery and equipment, necessary for the operation of key sectors.”
“Russia, on the other hand, has become a major strategic partner in arms procurement and intelligence. More than 90% of Nicaragua’s military equipment comes from Russia, which has also installed a Glonass satellite station in the country [commissioned in April 2017] to strengthen its surveillance and espionage capabilities, which benefits the Ortega regime. Russian military advisers in Nicaragua are strengthening the government’s capacity for social control and repression.”
