Daniel Ortega

Daniel Ortega Saavedra (born 11 November 1945) was the president of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990. For much of his life he has been an important leader in the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional or FSLN).

Post-1990

In Nicaragua's 1990 elections, Ortega lost to Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, his former colleague in the Junta. Chamorro was supported by a 14-party anti-Sandinista alliance known as the United Nicaraguan Opposition (UNO). The various anti-Sandinista guerrilla movements collectively known as the Contras, as well as the United States? trade embargo against the country, greatly hurt Ortega?s popularity in this election.

Related Topics:
United Nicaraguan Opposition - Contras - Embargo

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Ortega stood for election again in October 1996 and November 2001, but lost on both occasions. In these elections, a key issue was the allegation of corruption. In Ortega?s last days as president, through a series of legislative acts known as ?The Piñata?, estates that had been seized by the Sandinista government (some valued at millions and even billions US$) became the private property of various FSLN officials, including Ortega himself. It is also alleged that Ortega appropriated national bank funds for his personal account. In reference to these allegations, critics often call Ortega ?El Piñatin?.

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In 2001, the allegations of corruption against Ortega were somewhat overshadowed by those against Arnoldo Aleman, who defeated Ortega in 1996 and was still president in 2001. However, Ortega was then confronted with other scandals. His stepdaughter, Zoilamérica Narváez, made public allegations that he sexually abused her. Entities in the United States, most notably Jeb Bush, ran large ads in Nicaraguan newspapers associating Ortega with international terrorism.

Related Topics:
Arnoldo Aleman - Zoilamérica Narváez - Jeb Bush - Terrorism

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Ortega has long been accused of caudillismo (anti-democratic politico-military populism) and excessively authoritarian leadership. Prominent Sandinistas including Sergio Ramirez and Herty Lewites have left the party or have been expelled for dissenting to Ortega?s power. Many such dissenters support a small splinter group, the Sandinista Renewal Movement (the Movimiento Renovador Sandinista or ?MRS?), although this party eventually chose to support Ortega?s candidacy in the 2001 election. More recently, journalists Carlos Guadamuz and María José Bravo Sánchez) were murdered for their reporting critical of Ortega. Others have received death threats, including the well-known political cartoonist Manuel Guillén. There is no clear evidence that Ortega was directly involved in any such incidents. http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/67620/

Related Topics:
Caudillismo - Sergio Ramirez - Herty Lewites - Sandinista Renewal Movement - Carlos Guadamuz - María José Bravo Sánchez - Manuel Guillén

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Daniel Ortega was instrumental in creating the controversial, strategic pact between the FSLN and the Liberal Constitutional Party (Partido Liberal Constitucionalista, PLC). This alliance of Nicaragua's two major parties has changed the structure of the government and minimized the participation of other parties. The pact is said to have personally benefited former presidents Ortega and Aleman greatly, while constraining current president Bolaños.

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Ortega continues to lead the Sandinista party, which holds 43 seats in the Nicaraguan Parliament, making it the country's second largest party.

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