Nicaragua's Ortega to win a third term
Challengers allege fraud.
Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua's incumbent president is about to win a third term in office, following an early lead in Sunday's elections. While the results remain preliminary, that country's electoral commission is showing that Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla leader, had at least 63.7percent of the vote based on reports from 18 percent of the polls.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
Ortega's current lead is bigger than what was previously projected by opinion polls and some of Gadea's supporters have already accused Ortega's Sandinista party of electoral fraud.
Ortega held the presidency twice during the 1980s, and in 2009 was able to overturn the two term limits set by the national Constitution.
Ortega's wife and spokesperson said "this is the victory of Christianity, socialism and solidarity. Our promise is to keep building the common good."
Ortega supporters have been observed celebrating the victory, although the commission has not yet officially declared any winner. Throughout the capital city, Ortega supporters are outside by the thousands celebrating. Despite the celebrations, Ortega has remained quiet.
Opposition leaders also appear to be conferring with one another and may soon announce that they will not accept the results. Some are calling the election fraudulent because the margin of victory is so much greater than what was predicted by pre-election polls.
The Organization of American States has sent observers to monitor the election, and they have announced that their observers were kept out of 10 of 52 polling stations they were supposed to inspect. They have referred to this development as "worrying." According to former Argentine Chancellor and observer Dante Caputo, "that means we can't say that things went appropriately in 100 percent of the polling stations."
Ortega is a former commander of the Sandinista rebel army that overthrew the Nicaraguan government in 1979. Ortega has notably worked to improve the quality of life for Central America's poorest people, developing programs to improve health, education, and efforts to provide micro-credits and livestock.
Carla Floris, a 29-year-old mother of three, told reporters "there is no denying Ortega has done lots of good things, he's helped a lot of poor people. He's got to keep up the good work."
Of course it's that good work is the product of fraud, it will cast into question just how good that work truly is.
© 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords: Ortega, Nicaragua, lecture, fraud, victory, term, Sandinistas
NEWSLETTERS »
Rate This Article
Leave a Comment
More Americas News
- Is the 'human cost' in the war on drugs too high?
- High-tech Indiana Jones team discovers the fabled lost city of Ciudad Blanca
- Has the lost 'White City of gold' been found at last?
- Why did the world's laziest workers destroy a treasured Mayan pyramid?
- Scientists discover 'Brazilian Atlantis' off Rio coast
- Would emergency parachutes in high-rise buildings stave off another 9/11 disaster?
- Obama: Guantanamo 'is not in the best interest of the American people'
- Mexicans view U.S., Obama more favorably, 20 percent would immigrate illegally
- Declared the antichrist, three-day-old baby burned to death by Chilean cult leader
Featured News
- Fr. Paul Schenck: Finding Living Faith on Catechetical Sunday
- The Movie Yellow: Incest as 'Normal' and Cassavates's Slides Into the World of Woes
- The Chicago School Teachers Strike Reveals the Need For School Choice
- The Sexual Barbarians and the Dissolution of Culture
- The Happy Priest Challenges Us to Ask: Who is Jesus to Me?
- Michael Coren on Canadian Public Schools: Teachers, leave those kids alone
- We Cannot Ignore Our Consciences: Cardinal Dolan On Religious Liberty
- In the Face of Danger, Successor of Peter Travels to Lebanon as a Messenger of Peace
- Reflections on the Dignity and Vocation of Women: Who or What?
Most Popular
Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Read More
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Disclose Fight with the IRS, Demonstrate Courage Read More
Receiving the Eucharist: I Have Decided to Kneel For Jesus Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 6:5-17
A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35
Blessed are you, Yahweh, teach me your will! Read More
Gospel, Mark 10:1-12
After leaving there, he came into the territory of Judaea and ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. David I of Scotland
May 24: David, the youngest son of Scotland’s virtuous queen, (Saint) ... Read More
Latest Videos
Pope Francis speaks of Christian originality View Video
President of El Salvador gives Pope a relic of Msgr. Romero View Video
Pope meets with Italian bishops to lead a Profession of Faith, before the tomb of St. Peter View Video
Kevin Durant Meets With Volunteers and Families Affected by Tornadoes View Video
American appointed to head Order of Friars Minor View Video
Marketplace
Heaven Speaks to Victims of Clerical Abuse Read More
Everything First Communion
Shop mosacks.com for all your First Holy Communion gifts and ... Read More




Print















0 Comments