Some of the country’s first Covid-19 related restrictions on public gatherings will be put in place for this year’s Electoral Campaign prior to the General Elections in Nicaragua.
On Monday the 20th of September 2021, it was announced that “massive face to face gatherings will be prohibited” according to an order from the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) of Nicaragua.
In the announcement on the CSE website, they say the prohibitions are based on recommendations from the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health regarding sanitary measures to protect and safeguard the health of Nicaraguans against the Covid-19 virus during the electoral campaign of 2021.
The electoral campaign period was already reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It had been previously changed from a start date of the 21st of August to a revised start date of the 25th of September.
Prohibitions
The CSE appealed to the seven (7) parties and alliances participating in the 2021 General Elections to “avoid massive face-to-face events”.
They will not give permission for gatherings of more than 200 people and in any case must be no more than “an hour and a half in duration”.
Even then, they must comply with the measures that prevent the spread of Covid-19, including; keeping people 2 meters apart, the use of masks, hand sanitation and taking the temperatures of those present.
The CSE recommended “Virtual Rallies” as a way of campaigns getting their information out there.
The governing body has also prohibited the traditional “processions of buses, motorcycles, cars or any other transportation”.
People in high-risk groups such as suspected or confirmed with Covid-19, pregnant women, children and adolescents are advised not to attend any face-to-face activities.
The full notice from the CSE can be found here COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL SANITARY MEASURES CERTIFICATION FOR THE 2021 ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN PROCESS
The seven political parties and alliances campaigning in the 2021 General Elections of Nicaragua, 2021 are;
Sandinista National Liberation Front
Constitutionalist Liberal Party
Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance
Alliance for the Republic
Independent Liberal Party
Nicaraguan Christian Way
Yatama Indigenous Party (Caribbean Region Only)
