Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Russia celebrate Daniel Ortega's sham election

Daniel Ortega was assured this Monday of his fourth term in office in Nicaragua, after winning 75% of the votes in the November 7 elections, considered a "fraud" by a large part of the international community.

The governments of Cuba, Bolivia, Russia and Venezuela, as well as former Bolivian President Evo Morales, congratulated Ortega after Sunday's general elections amid widespread international condemnation.

The United States and the European Union (EU) called the elections "fake" in the face of repression and the imprisonment of seven opposition candidates vying for the presidency, as reported by Infobae.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the elections were held in an "organized" manner and compliance with the law.

"We sent observers and according to their testimonies, the elections were held in an organized manner and with compliance with Nicaraguan legislation, the epidemic rules imposed by Covid-19, and significant citizen participation," Lavrov remarked during a joint press conference with his Venezuelan counterpart, Felix Plasencia.

Regarding the US pronouncement, Lavrov added that "only Nicaraguans have the right to decide on the electoral process legitimacy in their country."

The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that "salutes the general elections in the brotherly people of Nicaragua where participation and democratic vocation stand out."

Evo Morales welcomed Ortega as Nicaragua’s constitutional president "despite the campaign of lies, blackmail, and threats from the US. Ortega's triumph is the defeat of interventionism."

Saludamos al digno pueblo de Nicaragua que en una demostración de coraje y madurez democrática eligió al hermano Daniel Ortega como presidente constitucional pese a la campaña de mentiras, chantaje y amenazas de EEUU. El triunfo de Ortega es la derrota del intervencionismo yanqui

— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) November 8, 2021

Nicolás Maduro congratulated Nicaraguans for their general elections and sent greetings to the former Sandinista guerrilla fighter. 

"A greeting to the great comrade President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, to his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo and the people of Nicaragua, giving battle to imperialism and its creeping allies in Europe, who continue to target Nicaragua," Maduro said during a conference at the Teresa Carreño Theater, in Caracas.

He took the opportunity to recall the upcoming November 14 elections in Venezuela. "Voting in Nicaragua and Venezuela is a step towards peace, progress, and stability," said Maduro.

#EnVideo📹| Presidente @NicolasMaduro felicitó a Nicaragua por la jornada electoral de hoy. Y añadió:

"El #21Nov tendremos las megaelecciones en Venezuela, para dar un paso a la paz, estabilidad, al progreso y a la prosperidad".#CuídateDeLaCovid19 pic.twitter.com/effTe7489u

— VTV CANAL 8 (@VTVcanal8) November 7, 2021

Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, congratulated his Nicaraguan counterpart for remaining in power after Sunday's elections.

"Congratulations to the brotherly people of Nicaragua, to Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, for the elections’ result, which was a demonstration of sovereignty and civility in the face of the cruel media campaign they are suffering," Díaz-Canel said via Twitter.

Felicidades al hermano pueblo de #Nicaragua, a Daniel Ortega y a Rosario Murillo, por el resultado de las elecciones de este domingo, que fueron una demostración de soberanía y civismo ante la cruel campaña mediática que sufren. Cuenten siempre con el apoyo de #Cuba. Un abrazo. pic.twitter.com/FkDzQUac3U

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) November 8, 2021

International Backlash

The leaders of authoritarian regimes applauded Ortega and Murillo amid worldwide rejection on the opposition candidates' arrests.

The United States and the EU were the first to criticize the elections. "The elections that have taken place in Nicaragua on November 7 have been held without democratic guarantees and their results lack legitimacy," expressed the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, in a statement shared by Infobae.

"Daniel Ortega has eliminated any credible electoral competition, depriving the Nicaraguan people of their right to freely elect their representatives," he added.

President Joe Biden accused Ortega and Murillo of conducting elections that were "neither free nor fair, and certainly not democratic."

"The United States, in close coordination with other members of the international community, will use every diplomatic and economic tool at our disposal to support the people of Nicaragua and hold the Ortega-Murillo government and those that facilitate its abuses accountable," Biden warned in a White House statement. 

Before the elections, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio issued a statement in which he assured that Ortega's victory would not be a surprise.

"The corrupt Ortega-Murillo regime has done everything in its power to undermine, disrespect, and disregard the democratic process in Nicaragua," said the Florida Republican.