Nicaragua Network Hotlines for November 9, 2004: FSLN Sweeps to Victories throughout Nicaragua

The Sandinista Front, by far the largest party in the Democratic Convergence, swept into power in almost all Nicaragua's principal cities and municipalities during Sunday's municipal elections. The FSLN dramatically increased its control of municipalities from its current 55 to 88, more than half Nicaragua's 152 municipalities. The results dealt a dramatic blow to the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) and especially to its imprisoned leader, Arnoldo Aleman. The PLC's overall tally of municipalities controlled was reduced by almost half, to about 43. As if to add insult to injury, the FSLN even took El Crucero, the town set in the hills above Managua where Aleman has his primary residence.

The Alliance for the Republic (APRE) came in a distant third taking a maximum of six insignificant municipalities and dashing President Bolaños' hopes of building a new political party that would be competitive with the FSLN and PLC. APRE's Managua candidate, Alejandro Fiallos, came in a dismal third place in Managua behind the FSLN's Dionisio Marenco and the PLC's Pedro Joaquim Chamorro. The FSLN sweep included another significant home town, Masaya, birthplace of Bolaños himself, and even the traditional Conservative capital of Granada (although this result is being contested by APRE).

On the Atlantic Coast the FSLN came close to unseating the PLC in Bluefields, while, in Bilwi/Puerto Cabezas, the indigenous party, YATAMA, scored a victory. The PLC won the departmental capital of Rivas, so they control only two of 17 capitals. The Nicaraguan Resistance Party of former contras won victories in four small communities.

Voter turn-out was low by Nicaraguan standards. Observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) estimated turn-out at about 54%. In practical terms, however, it means the FSLN now controls about two-thirds of the municipalities of the country. The new mayors will have significantly more financial resources since a change in the Constitution requires that 4% of national revenues now be turned over to the municipalities.

Sandinista General Secretary Daniel Ortega is hoping that the municipal victories will boost his prospect of regaining the presidency after losing to Violeta Chamorro, Arnoldo Aleman, and Enrique Bolaños in the last three elections. The division in the political right, between those who pledge fealty to imprisoned leader Aleman and those who want to move forward without their corrupt godfather, contributed to the FSLN victory.

The US embassy has worked unceasingly to unify the right and it is doubtful that the US will allow a divided right to go into the presidential elections. We will be watching for a big increase in National Endowment for Democracy spending as the Nicaraguan political class turns its attention to the next presidential election scheduled for November 2006.

Ortega attributed the FSLN/Convergence victories to the struggle against neoliberal economic prescriptions and the fight against corruption. Ortega said, "The Sandinista government gave the nation a modern Constitution that defends the right to a job, education, health care, a dignified life, and autonomy for indigenous and ethnic communities of the Atlantic Coast." We will send out a complete list of municipal results when they are officially published by the Supreme Electoral Council.

This hotline is prepared from the Nicaragua News Service and other sources.

Nicaragua Network
www.nicanet.org

1247 "E" Street
Washington, DC 20003

(202) 544-9355