Democracy

Under Ortega’s Tightening Grip

Since his election in 2007, Daniel Ortega has gradually dismantled Nicaragua’s democracy, silencing critics, censoring the news media and arresting opposition leaders. The international community has condemned the regime’s abuses and the United States has imposed a range of sanctions.

In this Latin American Program video explainer, we highlight the Ortega regime’s assault on Nicaragua’s democracy, the international community’s response, and insights from experts including leading Nicaraguan journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro; former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet; former longtime Human Rights Watch Americas Director José Miguel Vivanco; and former President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla.

Moderator

Oscar Cruz
Oscar M. Cruz
Program Associate, Communications, Latin American Program

Latin America Program

The Wilson Center’s prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the Wilson Center’s strength as the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action.   Read more

Latin America Program