Congress acts on Nicaraguan president’s power grab | McClatchy Washington Bureau

Demonstrating the growing anxiety in Washington about Nicaragua, the U.S. House of Representatives issued a scathing rebuke of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian push for power.

Democrats and Republicans in the lower chamber unanimously supported a call, led by Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Wednesday night to restrict the Ortega government’s access to loans from international financial institutions unless it accepts international observers and takes other steps to promote democracy.

“We must not allow Ortega to continue down this dangerous path without any serious repercussions,” Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement.

The United States has long had a sensitive relationship with Nicaragua, but concern in Washington has spiked in recent months as Ortega has taken several steps to undercut opposition forces and increase his own power in advance of the November elections, where he is running for a third consecutive term.

In recent months, Ortega, who leads the Sandinista National Liberation Front party, announced that he would not allow international election observers. He named his wife, first lady Rosario Murillo, as his running mate. In June, the Nicaraguan Supreme Court stripped two opposition parties of their leaders.

Members of Congress are also concerned about the expulsion of three U.S. government officials from the country and Nicaragua’s growing relationship with Russia. Last month, Nicaraguan received 50 tanks from the Russian government.

Ros-Lehtinen joined with Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., the ranking member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, to introduce the legislation against Ortega. It passed the House on Wednesday night by unanimous consent.

The legislation places U.S. restrictions on loans to the Ortega government by international financial institutions, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, unless it accepts international observers and other steps that show its willingness to hold free and fair elections. They’re also pressing for a State Department report on corruption and human rights violations by the Nicaraguan Supreme Electoral Council and National Assembly.

Nicaragua cooperates with the international community on issues such as free trade and counternarcotics. The cooperation appears to have reduced criticism from governments that desire to speak out against Ortega’s authoritarian turn, according to a Congressional Research Service report released last week.

For the most part, the Obama administration has taken a measured approach to Ortega. But senior officials have recently stepped up the rhetoric. In August, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the United States was “gravely concerned” by the Nicaraguan government’s efforts to limit democratic space in advance of the presidential election.

Last week, Ros-Lehtinen, the chairwoman of the subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, asked Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Juan Gonzalez whether the administration thought the legislation helped U.S. efforts to hold the Ortega regime accountable for violations against human rights and electoral manipulation.

“While we cannot comment on pending legislation, I will say, Madam Chair, that we share the principles behind it,” he answered.

Whether the legislation will make it to President Barack Obama’s desk is unclear. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced a companion bill in the Senate, but it has yet to make it out of committee.