Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sandinista 2.0
After losing three successive elections, FSLN leader Ortega returned to power in the
November 2006 elections, capitalizing on disillusionment with neoliberal policies that had
failed to jump-start the country's economy and an
el pacto
-sponsored law that lowered the
threshold for a first round victory to 35% of the votes (Ortega received 38%).
Daniel Ortega´s presidential comeback featured its very own theme song - a Sandinista
version of the John Lennon classic 'Give Peace a Chance'.
Taking office in January 2007, Ortega proclaimed a new era of leftist Latin American
unity, leaving the USA and some international investors a little jumpy. The early days of
Ortega's presidency were a flurry of activity, with Nicaragua's energy crisis seemingly
solved via a deal with Venezuela's Hugo Chávez, and Ortega pledging to maintain good re-
lations with the USA while at the same time courting closer ties with US archrival Iran.
But as the Ortega government found its feet, there was no sign of radical land reforms or
wave of nationalizations that the business sector had dreaded and some die-hard FSLN sup-
porters had hoped for. Ortega for the most part followed the economic course set by the
previous government and continued to honor Nicaragua's international financial obliga-
tions.
The first test for Nicaraguan democracy under the new Ortega government surfaced in
2008, with countrywide municipal elections. The FSLN claimed victory in over 70% of
municipalities, when it had come to power with only 38% of the vote. Opposition forces
claimed widespread voter fraud and
La Prensa
labeled the election 'the most fraudulent
elections in Nicaraguan history.'
Nevertheless Ortega weathered the storm and by the end of his return term was able to
point to solid economic growth alongside the reintroduction of free health care and educa-
tion among the achievements of his government.
TIMELINE
6000 BC
