Authorities scrap proposals to regulate free expression during elections

Expression

In July, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) presented draft rules aimed at regulating comments by political parties, journalists, members of civil society organisations and the public in general during the forthcoming election campaign. The draft regulation was later scrapped by the CSE, but its proposal raised concerns among civil society as it posed a potential threat to freedom of expression. Due to the current political context in Nicaragua, the regulation's vague wording could have been used by the government to silence critical opinions during an election which is already controversial because of the CSE's decision to remove 28 opposition deputies from their seats in parliament.