Former Ibero-American presidents denounce political revenge in Mexico, electoral veto in Nicaragua

A group of former Ibero-American presidents, including Spain's José María Aznar, Mexico's Felipe Calderón, and Colombia's Álvaro Uribe, have issued strong condemnations regarding the state of democracy in Latin America. In simultaneous statements, the leaders of the conservative IDEA Group voiced "profound concern" over the erosion of democratic guarantees and the rule of law in countries like Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

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deep concern

The former presidents specifically labeled the arrest of Ernesto Ruffo, a former governor of Baja California accused of organized crime and fuel smuggling, as an "act of political revenge." They highlighted Ruffo's historical significance as the first opposition governor democratically elected in modern Mexico. The group attributed his detention to the "dismantling of the Mexican Judicial System," warning that using imprisonment to punish dissent sends an "inadmissible" message of state-sponsored persecution.

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act of political revenge

Regarding Nicaragua, the ex-presidents expressed alarm over Daniel Ortega's announcement to permanently ban electoral processes. They criticized the lack of official reaction from the Organization of American States or its member states. The IDEA Group also conveyed its disquiet about the United States' geopolitical approach in Venezuela, suggesting it permits internal and external elites, associated with a single actor and promising national reconstruction, to retain control. The former leaders lamented that the Venezuelan people's democratic legitimacy is being postponed despite their demonstrated resilience and peaceful conduct since primary and presidential elections.

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dismantling of the Mexican Judicial System