José Pallais

José Bernard Pallais Arana (born c. 1954) is a Nicaraguan jurist and government official. He is a former Deputy Minister of Government and Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua during the administration of Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990 to 1997). From 2007 to 2012 he was a Deputy in the National Assembly, representing the León department as a member of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC).

Early life

José Pallais attended the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua at León, studying law. He earned a PhD from the Complutense University in Madrid and pursued postgraduate work at the Center for Economic Studies, also in Madrid. From 2007 to 2012 he was a deputy in the National Assembly of Nicaragua, representing the León Department with the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC). In that capacity he was the Assembly president of the Commission of Justice, leading the passage of legislation like the Law Against Organized Crime and the Freedom Information Laws. Pallais was detained for alleged violations of the controversial Law 1055, "Law for the Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self-Determination for Peace", passed in December 2020. The details of Pallais's alleged offenses were not released. The Public Ministry announced he had been sentenced to 90 days of preventive detention while he was investigated.

The National Coalition has denounced his detention, saying his life is at risk due to serious health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, glaucoma and spinal problems.