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Nicaraguan President Accused of
Electoral Offences
Evaluation of the process to
remove Nicaraguan President
Enrique Bolaņosī immunity
revealed Friday that he could be
facing court in August for
electoral offences.
The president is awaiting trial
for using State funds embezzled
by convicted ex President
Arnoldo Aleman, during his
presidential campaign in 2001.
He was also accused of not
reporting private campaign
donations to the Supreme
Electoral Council (CSE) or the
Comptrollerīs Office.
The Attorney Generalīs Office
accused Bolaņos and at least 30
Constitutional Liberal Party
(PLC) members, including seven
ministers, in October 2002,
following which a petition to
strip the president of immunity
was presented to the unicameral
Congress in January 2003.
The Comptrollerīs Office (CGR)
has also presented two petitions
for removal of the head of
governmentīs immunity, which are
pending.
One is for refusing to
collaborate with an audit of his
electoral campaignīs sponsorship
in 2001, and the other for
obstructing investigation of
Telecommunication and Mail (TELCOR)
accounts.
Deputy Mirna Rosales, the
National Assembly Special
Commission chairwoman who is in
charge of the case, asserted
that the first step is to decide
whether removal of immunity is
appropriate, which the
commission must decide within 20
days.
She said evidence will be
received in that period, and the
Attorney Generalīs Office, the
CGR, and the CSE will present
their considerations.
According to the rules, a
conclusive report must be
prepared within ten days, and
presented to the plenary for
approval.
If removal of immunity is
confirmed, the report will be
sent to the Supreme Court of
Justice for ratification.
Rosales told Prensa Latina "all
procedures will be in accordance
with the Law and the
Constitution."
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