Earlier this week, Spain announced a significant political move by granting citizenship to a group of exiles and prominent figures from Nicaragua. Among them is the celebrated poet Gioconda Belli, a longtime voice of resistance who now resides in Spain, and the winner of the Reina Sofía Ibero-American Poetry Prize. The decision also extends to a total of twelve other Nicaraguan citizens who had been stripped of their nationality by Daniel Ortega’s government after voicing criticisms of the regime. This act marks a rare moment of diplomatic sympathy from Madrid toward dissenters who were deemed to have opposed the government at considerable personal risk.
Information released by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relayed through Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares via his X account, confirms that the Council of Ministers approved the citizenship agreement in a meeting held today. In a message addressed to the thirteen opponents, whose identities were disclosed selectively by the minister, Albares stated that democracy and freedom have the support of Spain, underscoring the political symbolism of the measure.
The 75-year-old Gioconda Belli, who has spent years in exile, is among those who saw their Nicaraguan citizenship revoked nearly a year ago on charges described by authorities as treasonous. Following Spain’s decision to grant citizenship to her and others, the government official contacted Belli to convey the news directly, emphasizing the government’s commitment to defending democratic values even across borders.
The political context in which this decision sits includes a broader pattern observed since the Ortega administration began its crackdown on dissent. Reports indicate that prior to this latest move, there were discussions about offering Spanish citizenship to a wider group of political prisoners and exiles who had been deported or forced into exile due to their opposition to the regime. Initial indications suggested that 222 individuals who had faced imprisonment or forced departure in February of the previous year were potential beneficiaries, based on information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This development reflects ongoing efforts by Spain to provide a safe haven for those who faced political persecution in Nicaragua.
In the same period, the Ortega government, which has been in power since 2007, announced new penalties against critics abroad, including 94 additional Nicaraguans living in exile who were declared traitors and stripped of their citizenship, along with other sanctions. These actions illustrate the regime’s broader strategy of delegitimizing dissent and punishing those who publicly oppose its policies, even from overseas. The social and political repercussions of such measures extend beyond Nicaragua’s borders, influencing international reactions and asylum policies in neighboring countries and among Western allies.
Subsequent reporting indicates that Spain has extended citizenship offers to both the original group and those who joined the applications later, with the majority of the more than one hundred applications reportedly moving toward approval. The decision signals a clear alignment between Spain’s diplomatic stance and its humanitarian commitments, while also highlighting the complicated nature of migration, exile, and citizenship in the current Latin American geopolitical landscape. The evolving situation continues to attract attention from international observers who follow how states respond to political persecution and how asylum policies interact with broader regional dynamics.