Controversy over suspension of US aid to Nicaragua

Nicaragua: The suspension of the US aid to Nicaragua through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) on Wednesday has raised a controversy between supporters and opponents of the Sandinista Popular Government.

Over the past few months, the Department of State had threatened Nicaraguan authorities to reduce the original 175-million-dollar aid by about 62 million dollars, due to alleged irregularities in the November 2008 municipal elections.

Washington and its local allies were pressuring for the annulment of the election results, which favored the Sandinista party, in exchange for continuing to support aid projects for the poor.

Critics of the measure have blamed liberal lawmaker Eduardo Montealegre for the suspension of the US aid and have demanded the expulsion of US Ambassador Robert Callahan, due to his interfering behavior.

In that regard, Roberto Rivas, president of the Supreme Electoral Council, noted that Callahan should be expelled for violating the norms of behavior when he told reporters that the elections were fraudulent.

For his part, President Daniel Ortega summoned the people to a rally at Revolution Square, where an official response to the US decision is expected.

We cannot accept that these nations with huge accumulated resources, such as the United States and Europe, fail to comply with their commitments to development in poor countries, he pointed out. Ortega added that the White House ratified the carrot and stick policy when it suspended the MCA.

Managua, Prensa Latina