Nicaraguan president could be prosecuted: Supreme Court chief
Nicaragua's Supreme Court chief Manuel Martinez warned on Tuesday that President Enrique Bolaños could be prosecuted for decrees placing a regional court over Nicaragua's own judicial system.

The Central American Court of Justice (CACJ) had ruled that a series of constitutional reforms approved by Nicaraguan Congress were illegal and inapplicable.

Bolaños later issued two decrees asking his ministers, directors of autonomous institutions and head of the National Police to reject parliamentary resolutions which go against the CACJ ruling.

The government organs were also ordered to reject a Supreme Court resolution which voided the CACJ ruling for having no authority to intervene in conflicts between state branches of a country.

Martinez told a press conference that the judicial branch is the only state institution with the authority to solve internal conflicts among national organs under the constitution.

"The presidential decrees go against basic principles of law and institutional order, thus are illegal," said Martinez.

Bolaños or any individual who commits a crime is liable to prosecution, he warned.

Martinez said the court was studying two appeals against the presidential orders for police to obey only the executive, not the courts. A verdict is expected on Wednesday.

The political crisis in Nicaragua broke out late last year when the opposition-led National Assembly revised the constitution, taking into its own hands presidential powers of naming cabinet members and ambassadors. Nicaragua's Supreme Court chief Manuel Martinez warned on Tuesday that President Enrique Bolaños could be prosecuted for decrees placing a regional court over Nicaragua's own judicial system.

The Central American Court of Justice (CACJ) had ruled that a series of constitutional reforms approved by Nicaraguan Congress were illegal and inapplicable.

Bolaños later issued two decrees asking his ministers, directors of autonomous institutions and head of the National Police to reject parliamentary resolutions which go against the CACJ ruling.

The government organs were also ordered to reject a Supreme Court resolution which voided the CACJ ruling for having no authority to intervene in conflicts between state branches of a country.

Martinez told a press conference that the judicial branch is the only state institution with the authority to solve internal conflicts among national organs under the constitution.

"The presidential decrees go against basic principles of law and institutional order, thus are illegal," said Martinez.

Bolaños or any individual who commits a crime is liable to prosecution, he warned.

Martinez said the court was studying two appeals against the presidential orders for police to obey only the executive, not the courts. A verdict is expected on Wednesday.

The political crisis in Nicaragua broke out late last year when the opposition-led National Assembly revised the constitution, taking into its own hands presidential powers of naming cabinet members and ambassadors.