Speeches

Madam President, the European Parliament has called for an instrument such as the Magnitsky Act, a law that sanctions the violation of human rights, but important issues remain outstanding, and that is why we are here today in this debate. One of them is very important: is to contemplate corruption within this law. Because we also have the experience that senior officials and political leaders identified as part of the repressive apparatus in dictatorial regimes are, at the same time, identified as authors of corrupt, financial, business networks. It is very difficult to separate this, ladies and gentlemen, because corruption sustains repression and repression fuels corruption. Therefore, this is an issue on which we will continue to work and insist. But in parallel to this we also need to implement sanctions. And we cannot forget that it is the Council that implements them, and Parliament must have the right of monitoring and control. But, in addition to this, we must improve mechanisms to bring those responsible for these acts to international justice. Improving coordination with other States and judicial, regional and international organizations and institutions is essential. Also, of course - and it has been said - the qualified majority. Human rights cannot be vetoed, Minister. And when we impose sanctions, we also put the image of the European Union ahead of us. What happened to Belarus cannot happen: that, because there are discrepancies in the Council, for reasons beyond the sanctions, the sanctions expected by the international community, demanded by the people of Belarus, should be delayed. We call for unanimity on human rights issues because the Treaties provide for it and allow it.

Madam President, "how many tyrants do they reach in a lifetime?" asked the writer Gioconda Belli in a verse. Unfortunately, in the lives of Nicaraguans they reach several tyrants. Ortega has generated the worst scenario imaginable, in which we find ourselves today. I'm not subpoenaing the detainees. All presidential candidates, more than 300 killed since 2018, more than 120 political prisoners before June. We really have to send a clear message. Dialogue, yes, but sanctions must be strengthened. And this is a message also for the Council. Six sanctioned senior officials are too few for as much impunity and suffering as there is in Nicaragua. Therefore, Ortega says that he is used to everything, to be called everything. But I think what he is not used to, like all dictators, is that we dismantle the tingling of economic corruption that underpins his authoritarian regime. And so, I think we have a wide margin. Let us strongly sanction Ortega, Murillo and that family conglomerate that has turned Nicaragua into a family business where there is only suffering, repression and injustice.