On the 7th of November Nicaragua held elections. There are widespread allegations that the elections were neither free nor fair. Named a “pantomime” by US President Biden, denounced as “illegitimate” by Spain and the EU, and “not credible” according to the OAS, over 150 political figures have been imprisoned and opposition parties systematically banned. Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) and the LSE School of Public Policy are co-sponsoring a Zoom event to discuss the situation on the ground in Nicaragua and appropriate response from Western democracies.

Meet our speakers and chair

Carlos Chamorro (@cefeche) is one of the most respected journalists in Central America. Founder and director of the digital media Confidencial and the "Esta Semana" program, he received in 2021 the Ortega y Gasset award from the Spanish newspaper El País for his career defending freedom of expression, freedom of the press and investigative journalism. He was a Knight Fellow at Stanford University (1997-1998) and visiting professor at Berkeley University, California (1998-1999). In May 2009, he won the Prize for Freedom of Expression in Ibero-America, given by Casa América Cataluña (Spain). In October 2010, he received the Maria Moors Cabot Prize given by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York. Now, for the second time, he lives in exile in Costa Rica, following persecution in his home country of Nicaragua. His two siblings, Cristiana, a presidential candidate, and Pedro Joaquín, another important opposition figure, are political prisoners.

Dita Charanzová (@charanzova) is a Vice President of the European Parliament from the Czech Republic. Elected first in 2014, she is now serving her second mandate within the liberal group Renew Europe. Ms Charanzová completed a doctorate degree from the University of Economics, Prague, and graduated from the Diplomatic Academy in Madrid. She is a former diplomat, whose postings included the Czech Permanent Representation to the EU during the Czech Presidency. She has also worked at the Council of Europe. Ms Charanzová is also Vice President of the ALDE Party, the Renew Europe spokesperson of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee and a substitute in the International Trade Committee. Ms Charanzová was named “MEP of the Year” in the field of Foreign Affairs in the 2016 MEP Awards. She was also among the twenty most influential women that are shaping Brussels politics in 2017 as a "Tech Titan", according to Politico.

James Dauris (@JamesDauris) is the Head of Latin America Department and Deputy Director Americas at Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the Government of the United Kingdom. A British diplomat, James was previously British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Ambassador to Peru. He served in Colombia as Deputy Head of Mission from 2005 to 2009; as Deputy Head and later Acting Head of South Asia Group in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and as Deputy Head of the EU External Department from 2002 to 2003. James has a degree in law from the University of Cambridge and is a qualified solicitor.

Bianca Jagger (@BiancaJagger) has committed her life to defending human rights, social justice and environmental protection. She advocates for the right of indigenous peoples and future generations. She campaigns to end violence against women and girls and achieve gender equality. In her role as Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador to Abolish the Death Penalty, she campaigns for the world abolition of capital punishment. She is Founder, President and Chief Executive of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation (BJHRF), which she established in 2005 to be a force for change and a voice for the most vulnerable.

Andrés Velasco (@AndresVelasco) is Professor of Public Policy and Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

More about this event

Chatham House (@ChathamHouse) is an independent policy institute and a trusted forum for debate and dialogue. Our research and ideas help people understand our changing world.

The LSE School of Public Policy (@LSEPublicPolicy) is an international community where ideas and practice meet. Our approach creates professionals with the ability to analyse, understand and resolve the challenges of contemporary governance.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSENicaragua

Podcast & Video

A podcast of this event is available to download from Nicaragua's Electoral Pantomime: how should Western democracies respond?

A video of this event is available to watch at Nicaragua's Electoral Pantomime: how should Western democracies respond?

Podcasts and videos of many SPP events can be found at the LSE School of Public Policy Events: podcasts and videos page.