An amendment tabled by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group to a European Parliament joint resolution on political prisoners in Nicaragua would add a new paragraph welcoming Spain's decision to grant nationality to over 220 Nicaraguan exiles stripped of their citizenship by the Ortega-Murillo regime. The amendment, proposed by MEP Maria Noichl on behalf of the S&D group, was published on 17 June 2026 and is part of a broader resolution condemning the cases of Carlos Brenes, Salvadora del Socorro Martínez Aburto and Brooklyn Rivera.
The amendment introduces paragraph 3a, which characterises the arbitrary deprivation of nationality as a serious violation of fundamental rights and explicitly endorses Spain's solidarity measure. This shifts the resolution's focus from solely condemning individual detentions to also acknowledging practical support from a Member State, broadening the scope to cover a systemic pattern affecting over 220 exiles and their families. The amendment is currently a proposal and will be examined and voted on by the plenary before becoming part of the Parliament's position.
If adopted, the amendment would strengthen the resolution's legal and normative language while expanding its reach beyond the three named political prisoners. The move signals S&D's support for Member State-led humanitarian initiatives in response to Nicaragua's crackdown. No other groups have tabled competing amendments, so the proposal faces no immediate opposition within the parliamentary process. The resolution, jointly tabled by the European People's Party, S&D, European Conservatives and Reformists, Renew Europe, and the Greens/European Free Alliance, is expected to be put to a plenary vote in the coming weeks.
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