Nicaragua's Ortega secures fourth term, U.S. threatens sanctions

Electoral workers place a Nicaraguan flag on the door of a classroom, at a school used as polling station during the country's presidential election in Managua, Nicaragua, November 7, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega clinched a fourth consecutive term, results showed on Monday, after jailing political rivals ahead of a vote that prompted threats of sanctions from the United States and international calls for free elections.

Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council said that with nearly all the ballots counted, a preliminary tally had Ortega's Sandinista alliance winning with about 76% of votes.