Félix Maradiaga (44) – a close partner of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung Foundation in Latin America and liberal opposition politician to the Ortega regime – was arrested earlier this month by Nicaraguan security forces and taken to a suspected torture prison. Mr. Maradiaga last visited Brussels in 2018 and met several MEPs from our political group. The last information is that he could stay until three months in prison as the general attorney is delaying the investigation.

The ALDE Party calls for the immediate release of the opposition leaders in Nicaragua.

“The arbitrary detention of presidential candidate Félix Maradiaga and the other opposition leaders by President Ortega is a disgrace. We call for their immediate release to give the possibility for fair elections with a level playing field for opposition parties in Nicaragua,” said ALDE Party acting co-President Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP.

Photo: Félix Maradiaga spoke at SOAS in February 2018 (SOAS University of London, CC BY 3.0)