#aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 ,r4 
#aiah  ,,an ,,act  ,to oppose loans at  
int]national f9ancial in/itutions = !   
,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua unless ! ,gov]nm5t
 ( ,nic>agua is tak+ effective /eps to  
hold free1 fair1 & transp>5t elections1 
& = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is 
,act may be cit$ z ! ,nic>aguan         
,inve/m5t ,conditionality ,act 7,,nica7 
( #bjag4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes !  
foll[+ f9d+s3  7#a7 ,! ,h\se ,committee 
on ,=eign ,affairs conv5$ a             
congressional he>+ on ,decemb] #a1      
#bjaa1 entitl$ ,democracy ,held ,ho/age 
9 ,nic>agua3 ,"p #a :]e =m] ,unit$      
,/ates ,ambassador to ,nic>agua ,rob]t  
,callahan te/ifi$1 ,fir/1 t ,daniel     
,ortega's c&idacy 0 illegal1            
illegitimate1 & uncon/itutional2 second1
 t ! p]iod lead+ to ! elections & !     
elections !mselves 7 m>r$ by s]i\s      
fraud2 ?ird1 t ,daniel ,ortega & 8      
,s&9i/a p>ty h sy/ematically und]m9$ !  
c\ntry's fragile gov]nm5tal             
in/itutions44  7#b7 ,accord+ to !       

,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates 7,,oas7 
report on ! ,nic>aguan #bjaa            
,presid5tial elections1 ! ,,oas         
recomm5d$ t ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua take
 a numb] ( /eps to improve its electoral
 sy/ems1 includ+ accr$it+ poll wat*]s to
 ensure political p>ties & civil society
 are repres5t$ to obs]ve elections1 &   
r$esign+ ! /ructure ( ! ,nic>aguan      
electoral c\ncil to all[ prop]          
regi/ration ( ! electorate4  7#c7 ,on   
,janu>y #be1 #bjab1 a press /atem5t f   
,secret>y ( ,/ate ,hill>y ,cl9ton said3 
,z not$ by int]national obs]v]s &       
,nic>aguan civil society gr\ps1         
,nic>agua's rec5t elections 7 n conduct$
 9 a transp>5t & imp>tial mann]1 & !    
entire electoral process 0 m>r$ by      
significant irregul>ities4 ,! elections 
m>k$ a setback to democracy 9 ,nic>agua 
& und]m9$ ! ability ( ,nic>aguans to    
hold _! gov]nm5t acc\ntable44  7#d7     
,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's #bjae 
,fiscal ,transp>5cy ,report3 ,nic>agua's
 fiscal transp>5cy w\ld be improv$ by   

includ+ all (f-budget rev5ue &          
exp5diture 9 ! budget1 audit+ /ate-own$ 
ent]prises1 & conduct+ a full audit ( ! 
gov]nm5t's annual f9ancial /atem5ts &   
mak+ audit reports publicly available )9
 a reasonable p]iod ( "t44  7#e7        
,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's       
,c\ntry ,reports on ,human ,rights      
,practices = #bjae3 ,9 #bjaa ! ,supreme 
,electoral ,c\ncil 7,,cse7 ann\nc$ !    
re-election ( ,presid5t ,daniel ,ortega 
,saav$ra ( ! ,s&9i/a ,national          
,lib]ation ,front 7,,fsln7 9 elections t
 int]national & dome/ic obs]v]s         
*>act]iz$ z s]i\sly flaw$4 ,int]national
 & dome/ic organizations rais$ conc]ns  
reg>d+ ! con/itutional legitimacy (     
,ortega's re-election4 ,! #bjaa         
elections also provid$ ! rul+ p>ty ) a  
sup]majority 9 ! ,national ,assembly1   
all[+ = *anges 9 ! con/itution1 includ+ 
ext5d+ ! rea* ( executive bran* p[] & ! 
elim9ation ( re/rictions on re-election 
= executive bran* (ficials & mayors4    
,obs]v]s not$ s]i\s flaws dur+ ! #bjab  

municipal elections & ,m>* #bjad        
regional elections44  7#f7 ,accord+ to !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on
 ,human ,rights ,practices = #bjae 9    
,nic>agua3 ,! pr9cipal human rights     
abuses 7 re/rictions on citiz5s' "r to  
vote2 ob/acles to fre$om ( spee* &      
press1 includ+ gov]nm5t intimidation &  
h>assm5t ( j\rnali/s & indep5d5t m$ia1 z
 well z increas$ re/riction ( access to 
public in=mation1 includ+ national      
/ati/ics f public (fices2 & increas$    
gov]nm5t h>assm5t & intimidation (      
nongov]nm5tal organizations 7,n,g,os7 & 
civil society organizations44  7#g7 ,!  
same #bjae report /at$3 ,additional     
significant human rights abuses includ$ 
consid]ably bias$ policies to promote   
s+le-p>ty dom9ance2 arbitr>y police     
arre/ & det5tion ( suspects1 includ+    
abuse dur+ det5tion2 h>% & life-?reat5+ 
prison conditions ) arbitr>y & l5g?y    
pretrial det5tion2 discrim9ation aga9/  
e?nic m9orities & indig5\s p]sons &     
communities44  7#h7 ,on ,june #g1 #bjaf1

 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,bureau (        
,democracy1 ,human ,rights & ,labor po/$
 on social m$ia3 ,disappo9t$ gov]nm5t ( 
,nic>agua said x w d5y electoral obs]v]s
 reque/$ by ,nic>aguan citiz5s1 *ur*1 & 
private sector 99 99 99 ,we cont9ue to  
enc\rage ! gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua to all[ 
electoral obs]v]s z reque/$ by          
,nic>aguans44  7#i7 ,on ,june #ad1      
#bjaf1 ,presid5t ,ortega expell$ ?ree   
,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t (ficials 7two   
(ficials f ,u4,s4 ,cu/oms & ,bord]      
,protection & "o pr(essor f ! ,national 
,def5se ,univ]sity7 f ,nic>agua4  7#aj7 
,on ,augu/ #a1 #bjaf1 ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,/ate issu$ a press release to express  
grave conc]n ov] ! ,nic>aguan gov]nm5t  
limit+ democratic space lead+ up to !   
elections 9 ,novemb] & /at$ t on ,june  
#h1 ! ,nic>aguan ,supreme ,c\rt /ripp$ !
 opposition ,indep5d5t ,lib]al ,p>ty    
7,,pli7 f its long recogniz$ lead]4 ,!  
,supreme ,c\rt took simil> action on    
,june #ag :5 x invalidat$ ! lead]%ip ( !
 ,citiz5 ,action ,p>ty1 ! only rema9+   

opposition p>ty ) ! legal /&+ to pres5t 
a presid5tial c&idate4 ,mo/ rec5tly1 on 
,july #bi1 ! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil
 remov$ #bh ,,pli national assembly     
memb]s 7#af seat$ & #ab alt]nates7 f _! 
popul>ly-elect$ positions44  7#aa7 ,on  
,novemb] #g1 #bjaf1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate 
issu$ a press release /at+3 ,! ,unit$   
,/ates is deeply conc]n$ by ! flaw$     
presid5tial & legislative electoral     
process 9 ,nic>agua1 :i* preclud$ !     
possibility ( a free & fair election on 
,novemb] #f4 ,9 advance ( ! elections1 !
 ,nic>aguan gov]nm5t sidel9$ opposition 
c&idates = presid5t1 limit$ dome/ic     
obs]vation at ! polls & access to vot+  
cr$5tials1 & took o!r actions to d5y    
democratic space 9 ! process4 ,!        
decision by ! ,nic>aguan gov]nm5t n to  
invite indep5d5t int]national electoral 
obs]v]s fur!r degrad$ ! legitimacy ( !  
election44  7#ab7 ,9 ,novemb] & ,decemb]
 ( #bjaf1 ! ,bo>d ( ,executive          
,directors ( ! ,int]-,am]ican           
,developm5t ,bank po/pon$ consid]ation (

 a policy bas$ loan ( #fe million to !  
,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua due to ! ef=ts ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates mission t express$ s]i\s 
conc]ns ( ! abs5ce ( transp>5cy1 sy/emic
 corruption1 & ! lack ( free & fair     
elections 9 ,nic>agua4  7#ac7 ,accord+  
to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry        
,reports on ,human ,rights ,practices = 
#bjaf3 ,actions by ! rul+ ,s&9i/a       
,national ,lib]ation ,front 7,,fsln7    
p>ty result$ 9 de facto conc5tration (  
p[] 9 a s+le p>ty1 ) an au?orit>ian     
executive bran* ex]cis+ significant     
control ov] ! legislative1 judicial1 &  
electoral functions44  7#ad7 ,accord+ to
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports 
on ,human ,rights ,practices = #bjaf 9  
,nic>agua1 ,! ,novemb] #f elections =   
presid5t1 vice presid5t1 national       
assembly memb]s1 & repres5tatives = !   
,c5tral ,am]ican p>liam5t did n meet !  
conditions ( be+ free & fair 99 99 99 ,!
 ,novemb] #f presid5tial & legislative  
elections 7 m>r$ by allegations (       
in/itutional fraud & ! abs5ce (         

indep5d5t opposition political p>ties4  
,national obs]v]s & opposition lead]s   
claim$ rates ( ab/5tion f #fj to #gj    
p]c5t44  7#ae7 ,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on ,human     
,rights ,practices = #bjaf3 ,companies  
report$ t brib]y ( public (ficials1     
unlawful seizures1 & arbitr>y assessm5ts
 by cu/oms & tax au?orities 7 common 99 
99 99 ,! c\rts rema9$ p>ticul>ly        
susceptible to bribes1 manipulation1 &  
o!r =ms ( corruption1 especially by !   
,,fsln1 giv+ ! s5se t ! ,,fsln heavily  
influ5c$ ,,csj & l[]-level c\rt         
actions44  #c4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,x is !
 policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to support--  
7#a7 ! rule ( law & an indep5d5t        
judici>y & electoral c\ncil 9 ,nic>agua2
  7#b7 indep5d5t pro-democracy          
organizations 9 ,nic>agua2  7#c7 free1  
fair1 & transp>5t elections "u          
int]national & dome/ic obs]v]s 9        
,nic>agua2 &  7#d7 anti-corruption &    
transp>5cy ef=ts 9 ,nic>agua4  #d4      
,int]national f9ancial in/itutions  7a7 

,9 g5]al ,! ,presid5t %all in/ruct !    
,unit$ ,/ates ,executive ,director at   
ea* int]national f9ancial in/itution to 
use ! voice1 vote1 & influ5ce ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates to oppose any loan = ! b5efit ( 
! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua1 o!r ?an to     
address basic human ne$s or promote     
democracy1 unless ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate   
c]tifies & reports to ! appropriate     
congressional committees t ! ,gov]nm5t (
 ,nic>agua is tak+ effective /eps to--  
7#a7 hold free1 fair1 & transp>5t       
elections ov]se5 by cr$ible dome/ic &   
int]national electoral obs]v]s2  7#b7   
promote democracy1 z well z an indep5d5t
 judicial sy/em & electoral c\ncil2     
7#c7 /r5g!n ! rule ( law2  7#d7 respect 
! "r to fre$om ( association &          
expression2  7#e7 combat corruption1    
includ+ inve/igat+ & prosecut+ gov]nm5t 
(ficials t are cr$ibly alleg$ to be     
corrupt2 &  7#f7 protect ! "r (         
political opposition p>ties1 j\rnali/s1 
trade unioni/s1 human rights def5d]s1 & 
o!r civil society activi/s to op]ate )\t

 int]f]5ce4  7b7 ,report ,n lat] ?an    
#ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ! ,treasury %all   
submit to ! appropriate congressional   
committees a writt5 report assess+--    
7#a7 ! effectiv5ess ( ! int]national    
f9ancial in/itutions 9 en=c+ applicable 
program safegu>ds 9 ,nic>agua2 &  7#b7 !
 effects ( ! matt]s describ$ 9 section  
#b on long-t]m prospects = positive     
developm5t outcomes 9 ,nic>agua4  7c7   
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7        
,appropriate congressional committees ,!
 t]m appropriate congressional          
committees means--  7,a7 ! ,committee on
 ,=eign ,affairs1 ! ,committee on       
,appropriations1 & ! ,committee on      
,f9ancial ,s]vices ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives2 &  7,b7 ! ,committee on
 ,=eign ,relations1 ! ,committee on     
,appropriations1 & ! ,committee on      
,bank+1 ,h\s+1 & ,urban ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate4  7#b7 ,int]national f9ancial    
in/itution ,! t]m int]national f9ancial 
in/itution means ! ,int]national        

,monet>y ,fund1 ,int]national ,bank =   
,recon/ruction & ,developm5t1 ,european 
,bank = ,recon/ruction & ,developm5t1   
,int]national ,developm5t ,association1 
,int]national ,f9ance ,corporation1     
,multilat]al ,inve/m5t ,gu>antee ,ag5cy1
 ,african ,developm5t ,bank1 ,african   
,developm5t ,fund1 ,asian ,developm5t   
,bank1 ,int]-,am]ican ,developm5t ,bank1
 ,bank = ,economic ,coop]ation &        
,developm5t 9 ! ,middle ,ea/ & ,nor?    
,africa1 & ,int]-,am]ican ,inve/m5t     
,corporation4  7d7 ,t]m9ation ,?is      
section %all t]m9ate on ! day aft] !    
e>li] (--  7#a7 ! date on :i* !         
,secret>y ( ,/ate c]tifies & reports to 
! appropriate congressional committees t
 ! requirem5ts ( subsection 7a7 are met2
 or  7#b7 #e ye>s aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7e7 ,waiv] ,!     
,presid5t may waive ?is section if !    
,presid5t det]m9es t su* a waiv] is 9 ! 
national int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  #e4 
,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates ,!      
,presid5t %all direct ! ,unit$ ,/ates   

,p]man5t ,repres5tative to ! ,,oas to   
use ! voice1 vote1 & influ5ce ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates at ! ,,oas to /rongly advocate =
 an ,electoral ,obs]vation ,mission to  
be s5t to ,nic>agua 9 #bjag to obs]ve ! 
possibility ( cr$ible elections4  #f4   
,s5se ( ,congress ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate &
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national 
,developm5t %\ld prioritize =eign       
assi/ance to ! p ( ,nic>agua to assi/   
civil society 9 democracy & gov]nance   
programs1 includ+ human rights          
docum5tation4  #g4 ,report on corruption
 9 ,nic>agua  7a7 ,report requirem5t ,n 
lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,/ate1 9 consultation ) ! intellig5ce   
community 7z def9$ 9 section #c7d7 ( !  
,national ,security ,act ( #aidg 7#ej   
,u4,s4,c4 #cjjc7d771 %all submit to     
,congress a report on ! involvem5t (    
s5ior ,nic>aguan gov]nm5t (ficials1     
includ+ memb]s ( ! ,supreme ,electoral  
,c\ncil1 ! ,national ,assembly1 & !     
judicial sy/em1 9 acts ( public         

corruption or human rights violations 9 
,nic>agua4  7b7 ,=m ,! report requir$ 9 
subsection 7a7 %all be submitt$ 9       
unclassifi$ =m1 b may conta9 a classifi$
 annex4 ,! unclassifi$ portion ( !      
report %all be made available to !      
public4  ,pass$ ! ,h\se (               
,repres5tatives ,octob] #c1             
#bjag4;,cl]k4