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world news Diaranson 12 Januari 2022

Ortega sworn in for 4th straight term as Nicaragua’s leader

(AP) — Nicaragua Presi- his government with foreign
dent Daniel Ortega was backing. “Ortega’s corrupt security
sworn in for a fourth con- and judicial system arrested
secutive term Monday fol- Earlier Monday, the U.S. these individuals for prac-
lowing elections consid- Treasury Department slapped ticing independent journal-
ered rigged and on a day sanctions on more Nicara- ism, working for civil soci-
marked by sanctions from guan officials. ety organizations, seeking
the United States and to compete in elections, and
European Union against The Treasury Department publicly expressing an opin-
members of his govern- announced it will freeze the ion contrary to government
ment. U.S. assets of the defense orthodoxy, among other ac-
minister and five other offi- tivities considered normal in
Alongside him was first lady cials in the army, telecom and a free society,” the State De-
Rosario Murillo, sworn in for mining sectors. As with doz- partment wrote.
her second term as his vice ens of Nicaraguan officials
president. already under sanctions, U.S. “President Ortega will in-
citizens will be prohibited augurate himself for a new
“We are going to continue from having dealings with presidential term today, but
fighting to defend the people them. the pre-determined election
so they have health care, edu- he staged on November 7 disapproval. ernments in the dilemma
cation and housing,” the for- “Since April 2018, the does not provide him with a of deciding whether to send
mer Sandinista commander Ortega-Murillo regime has new democratic mandate,” The Ortega regime has been representatives to the inau-
said in the capital’s Revo- cracked down on political according to the statement. hit by rounds of condemna- guration ceremony.
lution Plaza filled with the opposition and public dem- “Only free and fair elections tion and sanctions since the
waving flags of his party. onstrations, leading to more can do that.” vote. The Mexican government,
than 300 deaths, 2,000 inju- for example, flip-flopped re-
Ortega, 76, and Murillo, 70, ries, and the imprisonment Ortega was elected to a Nicaragua’s government an- peatedly Sunday and Mon-
oversaw the jailing of opposi- of hundreds of political and fourth consecutive term in nounced in November it will day on whether it would send
tion leaders, including seven civil society actors,” accord- Nov. 7 elections that were withdraw from the Organi- anybody.
potential challengers for the ing to a Treasury Depart- broadly criticized as a farce zation of American States, af-
presidency, months before ment statement. “More than after seven likely challengers ter the regional body accused On Sunday, Mexico said it
the November election. 100,000 Nicaraguans have to Ortega were arrested and Ortega’s government of acts would send a mid-level for-
They have remained defiant since fled the country.” jailed in the months prior to of repression and rigging the eign relations official, then
under foreign pressure. the vote. His inauguration election. said it wouldn’t. President
The State Department said ceremony was expected to be Andrés Manuel López Ob-
On Monday evening, Ortega Nicaragua “continues to hold held later Monday. The OAS General Assembly rador said Monday that he
called for the lifting of sanc- 170 political prisoners, with voted to condemn the elec- wasn’t sure, then corrected
tions against Venezuela and many of those detained suf- With all government institu- tions, saying they “were not and said he would send the
Cuba — both of whose lead- fering from a lack of adequate tions firmly within Ortega’s free, fair or transparent, and charge d’affaires at the Mexi-
ers attended the event — and food and proper medical grasp and the opposition ex- lack democratic legitimacy.” can Embassy in Managua.
said U.S. President “has more care.” iled, jailed or in hiding, the
than 700 political prisoners” 75-year-old leader eroded Twenty-five countries in the The list of those expected to
in reference to those jailed The State Department is also what hope remained the Americas voted in favor of attend included representa-
in relation to the storming of imposing visa restrictions on country could soon return to the resolution, while seven tives from China, North Ko-
the U.S. capitol a year ago. 116 individuals linked to the a democratic path. Instead, — including Mexico — ab- rea, Iran, Russia and Syria.
Ortega regime, “including he appeared poised to test the stained. Only Nicaragua vot- Venezuela President Nicolas
Ortega maintains that huge mayors, prosecutors, univer- international community’s ed against it. Maduro and Cuba President
street protests against his sity administrators, as well as resolve and continue thumb- Miguel Díaz-Canel also at-
government in April 2018 police, prison, and military ing his nose at their targeted Ortega’s defiant stance has tended.
were an attempt to overthrow officials.” sanctions and statements of placed Latin American gov-

Germany faces ‘gigantic’ task meeting energy, climate goals

(AP) — Germany’s new try. 65%. of legislation this spring and
climate minister said Renewable sources such as summer that include revis-
Tuesday that the country Robert Habeck, a member of Pandemic-related effects that solar and wind power cur- ing subsidies for renewable
faces a “gigantic” task if it the environmentalist Greens, allowed Germany to achieve rently provide about 43% of energy, requiring solar panels
wants to achieve its goals told reporters in Berlin that its interim goal of a 40% re- Germany’s electricity, but on new buildings and adjust-
for reducing greenhouse Germany is on track to halve duction by 2020 fell away last that share needs to almost ing the rules on where wind
gas emissions while ensur- its emissions by 2030 com- year, resulting in a renewed double to 80% by 2030, Ha- turbines can be erected.
ing sufficient energy for pared to 1990 levels — far off rise in emissions for 2021. beck said. He noted that
its energy-hungry indus- the government’s target of electricity consumption over Habeck said he expects a
One reason for Germany’s that period is projected to in- “huge political debate” over
rising emissions is the deci- crease significantly as people the measures, but insisted
sion to switch off all nuclear switch from combustion en- that Germany can’t afford to
power plants by the end of gine vehicles to electric cars, frame it as a tradeoff between
this year, increasing reliance and heating homes with oil preserving the natural land-
on coal-fired power plants. to electricity-powered heat scape, protecting the econ-
pumps. omy or reducing emissions.
The government plans to Last year’s deadly flash floods
phase out coal power “ide- “You can see the task is big, in western Germany, which
ally” by 2030 as well, filling gigantic,” Habeck said. killed some 200 people and
the gap with less polluting devastated entire villages,
natural gas until enough re- The new center-left gov- had shown one could happen
newable energy is available ernment that took power in without the others, he said.
to meet the demands of Eu- Germany last month plans
rope’s biggest economy. to put forward two packages