As was expected, the United States was a serious critic of the elections. The President of the United States called it not a free and fair election, but an electoral show. He, who based on the American Democratic Charter considers countries in the Western Hemisphere to defend the democratic rights of the Nicaraguan people, called on the Ortega government to take immediate steps to restore democracy and the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners who, in his belief, have spoken out against the government’s abuse of power and demanded the right of the Nicaraguan people to vote in free and fair elections.

Joe Biden announced new restrictions on the entry of the presidential couple (Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo) and their children and relatives, as well as Nicaraguan government employees, into the United States following the announcement of the results of the Nicaraguan elections in which the Sandinista government was re-elected. Biden had promised to use all available political and economic means to bring the Ortega government to its knees after winning the Nicaraguan elections again. External pressure and the issuance and implementation of a resolution against Nicaragua, which is on the current agenda of Washington and its partners and affiliated organizations, were not unexpected, and Managua anticipated them before, during, and after the elections.

Biden, with an aim of putting more pressure on the country, signed a bill called “rebirth” and turned it into law. The bill calls for more sanctions and punitive measures against the Nicaraguan president. By signing the resolution, the United States will call for a review of Nicaragua’s continued participation in the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). About half of Nicaragua’s exports go to the United States, and its tariffs are kept low under the agreement (CAFTA-DR).

The law is another tool of pressure against the Ortega government. The law allows for tougher sanctions against government officials and figures associated with the Ortega government, as well as a review of Nicaragua’s membership in the US Free Trade Agreement with Central America, and could be used to tighten sanctions against the Daniel Ortega government and limit the loans the Ortega government receives from international banks and target “government corruption”.

Positions of countries with regard to the Nicaraguan elections have been very different. Citing the testimony of observers present at the elections, the Russian Foreign Minister said that it was held regularly and in compliance with domestic law and with significant public participation. The right to decide on the legitimacy of the elections belongs only to the people of Nicaragua. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman also condemned the refusal of the European Union, the United States and some other countries to recognize the election results, saying that their statements were of no legal value to Nicaragua and that Russia supported the people of Nicaragua in defending the right to free and independent development.

But EU Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell called on the Nicaraguan government to return to rule by calling the Ortega government dictatorial and undemocratic, the elections a sham and also demanding the Sandinista government to end repression and restore democracy and human rights and bringing the legitimacy of the elections under question. Evidence shows that the Union seeks to impose further restrictions on the Sandinista government, beyond the individual restrictions imposed on its agents.

Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Vietnam, North Korea and the Alba Regional Organization, the former Bolivian president, the Brazilian Labor Party and the Spanish Communist Party, have strongly criticized US and other countries for not recognizing Nicaragua’s free elections and supported successful trend of the elections. Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Argentina, and the Secretary-General of the Organization of American countries all criticized the election results.

The Organization of American States (OAS), a US-affiliated organization, held a majority of 25 votes in favor (including Argentina, Peru and El Salvador) and seven abstentions (Mexico, Bolivia, Honduras, Beliz, Dominica, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines), 1 vote against (Nicaragua) and 1 member absent (San Cristobal and Neves) passed the organization’s third resolution (from 2018 onwards) on the situation in Nicaragua.

Costa Rica and seven countries of Canada, Costa Rica, USA, Chile, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Antigua and Barbados submitted the draft resolution to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States. However, the draft does not explicitly propose activation of Article 21 of the Organization’s Democratic Charter against Nicaragua, which does not propose suspension of a member of the organization if it violates the democratic order and diplomacy, but it could lead to the activation of this article if collective investigations are concluded. The state of democracy in Nicaragua had practically become the main topic of discussion among representatives of the 34 member states of the Organization of American States at the 51st General Assembly of the Organization in Guatemala.

Although Nicaragua will face escalating economic downturns from Washington and its allies in the wake of Ortega’s re-election victory, and the issue of possible international isolation, Nicaragua predicts 8% economic growth by the end of 2021 and its geopolitical position eliminates economic weakening of Nicaragua. Ortega’s supporters believe that the development of economic relations in the free trade agreement and the increase in international investments and reserves are part of the measures that will allow Nicaragua to maintain its positive economic situation. A situation that people of that country owe to the efforts of Ortega. The head of the Central Bank of Nicaragua also announced a significant increase in direct foreign investment in the country in the first half of this year. This figure will reach 632.1 million dollars, which is 1.9 times the amount achieved in 2020, and it is projected that by the end of this year, the gross income from direct investment will reach about 1.2 billion dollars. According to the Nicaraguan Minister of Finance, 56.8% of next year’s budget bill will go to the implementation of public, social and economic policies, 22.2% to the health sector and 23% to the education sector, which targets the majority of Nicaraguan society.