Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Election Controversy
Prior to reclaiming the top job, President
Daniel Ortega had appeared on the ballot pa-
per in every one of the previous four Nicara-
guan elections, so it was not a huge surprise
when, as his return term was nearing its end,
reports surfaced that the FSLN leader was not
too hot on the idea of handing over the reigns
to a successor.
Confirmation that Ortega was not yet ready
to relinquish power surfaced in 2009 when the
Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional
(Sandinista National Liberation Front; FSLN)-
dominated Supreme Court overturned a con-
stitutional ban on consecutive presidential
terms. The opposition launched legal chal-
lenges in an attempt to overturn the ruling
without success.
Despite the controversy, the lead-up to the
November 2011 election was somewhat sub-
dued. Ortega's return to the presidency had
not turned out to be the disaster that many on
the right had predicted. During his five years
in office, the economy had performed strongly
with exports doubling and foreign direct in-
vestment increasing fivefold.
Polls leading up to the election showed
Ortega well in front, confirming the suspicion
that many in the once-rabidly anti-FSLN
private sector had gotten over its distrust of
the former rebel.
In the end, Ortega cruised to victory with
62.7% of the vote, more than twice that of his
closest rival, conservative radio personality Fabio Gadea, who claimed fraud. Observers
Best in Film
La Yuma
Portrays the challenges facing
a female boxer from Managua.
Palabras Magicas
The making of mod-
ern Nicaragua through the lens of a
young filmmaker.
Walker
Biopic of a megalomaniac with
music by the late, great Joe Strummer.
Carla's Song
British bus driver falls for
Nicaraguan dancer in exile in romantic
drama with a political edge.
Pictures from a Revolution
The story
behind the famous war images of Susan
Meiselas.
Best in Print
Blood of Brothers
(Stephen Kinzer)
Fascinating account of revolution and
war.
The Country Beneath My Skin
(Gioconda Belli) Autobiography by re-
volutionary poet.
Selected Poems of Rubén Darío
(trans-
lated by Lysander Kemp) Bilingual an-
thology of the master poet´s best work.
The Jaguar Smile
(Salman Rushdie)
Accessible insider's look at the Sandinis-
tas during the revolution.
Tycoon's War
(Stephen Dando-Collins)
Documents the epic battle between im-
perialists Vanderbilt and Walker.
