Weekly Report - 8 September 2011 (WR-11-36)

NICARAGUA | Police chief to continue. President Daniel Ortega has once again laid himself open to accusations of riding roughshod over institutional procedure ahead of the 6 November general elections by issuing a presidential order which extends the five year mandate of Nicaragua’s police (PN) chief Aminta Granera, for an unspecified period. Granera remains one of the most popular public figures in Nicaragua, due in part to her achievements at the helm of the PN (see sidebar) and perceived independence from Ortega. Yet the 5 September presidential order violates article 88 of the 1996 law regulating the police (228) which establishes that the PN chief has a five year mandate. Following Ortega’s controversial January 2010 decree extending the mandates of current electoral and judicial officials [WR-10-02] the move is fanning concerns that the police, which has a crucial role to play in maintaining public order ahead of the election, is the latest institution under threat by excessive executive control.

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