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Caribbean-Latin America
Ortega appears to have won Nicaraguan election
2006-11-06
Former Nicaraguan dictator leader Daniel Ortega appeared headed for victory Monday in his longtime quest to regain power, 16 years after a U.S.-backed rebellion helped drive the former Marxist revolutionary from office. Early results from Sunday's presidential election gave the Sandinista leader a strong lead over his four rivals. His victory, if confirmed by final results, would expand the club of Perfect Latin American Idiots leftist Latin rulers led by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who has tried to help his ally by shipping cheap oil to the energy-starved nation.

Ortega, who led Nicaragua from 1985-1990, has repeatedly said he is not the Marxist revolutionary who fought U.S.-backed Contra rebels, a war that left 30,000 dead and the economy in shambles.
It's the New Daniel. Look at those nice sheep's clothes.
But while he has toned down his leftist rhetoric and pledged to continue free-trade policies, the United States remains openly wary of its former Cold War foe. Washington has threatened to withhold aid to the nation, fearing a return to the socialist economic policies of the 1980s.

With 15 percent of polling stations counted, Ortega had 40 percent of Sunday's vote, compared with 33 percent for his closest challenger, the wealthy banker Eduardo Montealegre. To win outright and avoid a runoff, the leftist Sandinista leader needs just 35 percent of the vote and a five-point advantage over his closest opponent. Three others rivals were well behind: Sandinista dissident Edmundo Jarquin, ruling-party candidate Jose Rizo and former Contra rebel Eden Pastora.

The U.S. Embassy said it was too soon to "make an overall judgment on the fairness and transparency of the process."
I'm sure Jimmeh doesn't think it too soon: if an anti-American leftist wins, it must a fair election.
"We are receiving reports of some anomalies in the electoral process," including polling stations that opened late and closed early, the embassy said.

At stake are millions of dollars in potential investments, many from foreign companies drawn to Nicaragua by its cheap labor, low crime rates and decision to join the new Central American Free Trade Agreement. "We are playing with the stability of the country," said Jose Adan Aguirre, president of the Chamber of Commerce.

After voting Sunday, Ortega said he was confident there wouldn't be a runoff or any more elections. "Nicaragua wins today," he said, climbing into his Mercedes sport utility vehicle and driving away with his wife.


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