Sen. Cruz & Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Issue Joint Statement Expressing Concern Over OAS’s Questionable Decision on Accompanying Electoral Mission to Nicaragua; Redouble Commitment to Passing NICA Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) issued the following statement today responding to the recent announcement of an Organization of American States (OAS) accompanying observation mission for the upcoming election in Nicaragua:

“We are extremely concerned with the recent announcement by the Organization of American States (OAS) to send an accompanying observation mission to Nicaragua just weeks before the scheduled municipal elections in November. The lack of transparency in the observation’s process and mission, the selection of Wilfredo Penco – a well-known rubber stamp for Daniel Ortega’s electoral manipulation – and the widespread, systemic corruption within the Nicaraguan Supreme Electoral Council, all point to a predetermined and favorable outcome for the Ortega regime.

“The OAS is meant to support democracy and the rule of law in the Americas, not enable despots like Ortega to dismantle a nation’s democratic institutions. Yet by sending down this flawed observer mission rather than take any real and meaningful action, the OAS is legitimizing this corrupt and illegitimate process.

“As the authors of the NICA Act in Congress, we are committed to passing legislation in order to help support the people of Nicaragua in their pursuit of a democratically elected government that respects the rule of law, protects their human rights, ends corruption, and upholds the democratic principles enshrined in their constitution and in the OAS Inter-American Democratic Charter.”

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