A FORMER Contra leader has registered as a candidate to challenge the re-election bid by President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua’s November 7 elections.

The Citizens for Liberty coalition registered Oscar Sobalvarro, a former commander in the US-backed rebellion against the left-wing Sandinista government during the 1980s, on Monday.

International human rights groups accused the right-wing rebel group at the time of carrying out a slew of abuses, including executions, torture, mutilations, rape and kidnappings.

The conservative coalition has nominated Berenice Quezada, who was crowned Miss Nicaragua in 2017, to stand for vice-president.

Mr Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, are the the Sandinista party’s nominations for president and vice-president.

Corporate media reports have accused Mr Ortega’s government of preventing right-wing parties from standing at the election.

However Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group executive committee member Francisco Dominguez told the Star that the very fact that Mr Sobalvarro and the Citizens for Liberty are able to run for election is “a confirmation of the nature of the political democracy that exists in Nicaragua.

“A former right-wing guerilla commander has had no problem registering to stand for president.

“There are sections of the Nicaraguan right who seem to be doing everything possible to sabotage, to complicate or to obstruct the election process.

“The Nicaraguan people don’t want any interference in their affairs. They want to have their elections in peace, so that whatever problems they may have can be solved democratically,” Mr Dominguez said.