From Now until 2006, Both 'Voice' and 'Vote' Will be Important and Crucial for Nicaraguans

What Role can PML play?

My January trip to León this year, was exhilarating, exhausting and worrisome. This visit was my first as PML’s Executive Director, but most readers know I have a long history with the people of León and with the work of PML. From that perspective, I have a good sense that we’ll be facing an exciting year ahead.

PML has never been a large organization, but we are intimately involved in the process of making certain our priorities evolve from the ideas and passions of the Nicaraguans with whom we work.

I found, during this recent visit, that the concerns of Nicaraguans are focused around the Presidential election in 2006. Many of the people I spoke with in León express an elevated level of concern about the divisions within the two major political parties. People are wary of the outcome of the election, even as the process of selecting candidates is only beginning. The buzz among the people includes their desire to have both “Voz y Voto”: They seem determined to lift their voices over the next 20 months and they hope for a large voter turnout for the election in late 2006.

Each of the two major political parties, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and the Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC) are divided over their two leading candidates. Herty Lewites, former mayor of Managua, and Daniel Ortega are the proposed FSLN candidates. Support within the PLC is divided between Eduardo Montealegre, who served as the Minister of Exterior Relacions under Aleman and the Minister of Public Housing and Credit under Enrique Bolaños (current President), and Arnoldo Aleman, who is currently serving an in-home jail sentence for embezzling state monies during his 1994-2000 presidency.

The majority of the voting population, now, is very young; between the ages of 16 and 21. This group will be casting ballots for the first time in 2006 and, in my experience, they tend to have limited personal knowledge of the intense political struggles which occurred in Nicaragua over the past 25 years. With such a potent but largely unknown variable among the electorate and with strong divisions amongst the two main political parties, Nicaraguans are unsettled and wary.

Many Nicaraguans are not happy with what the PLC has done with their country, allowing what have become worker-abusive Free Trade Zones, privatization of utilities, approval of CAFTA, a declining social support network and increasing unemployment. However, with a majority of Nicaraguan municipalities – 80 percent - having elected FSLN Mayors in 2004, there is growing fear that if the FSLN were to win the 2006 presidential election, the country would be faced with U.S. imposed economic restrictions.

With life so uncertain and the political environment unstable, our challenge intensifies to encourage communities to work at a grassroots level and develop sustainable plans for themselves. I feel more optimistic than ever that the work we are doing in León is not only important, but necessary. As I said before, Project Minnesota/León has never been a large organization, but we are directly involved in progressive initiatives to improve lives in León. During this visit, my passion for our work with community groups, helping to ensure appropriate, holistic and self-sustaining projects, has been renewed. From my conversations with community leaders, it is clear that PML’s presence in León continues to make a difference. Our work gives hope. But, there’s still a long road ahead and we definitely have our work cut out for us. Visit our website for future updates: www.mn-leon.org

Help build democracy in Nicaragua:

• <!--[if !supportLists]-->Pay attention: Are we interfering with the coming presidential election?

• <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->How can we support a free and fair 2006 election in Nicaragua? What do you know about The National Endowment for Democracy (www.ned.org)?

• <!--[if !supportLists]-->Sign up for free online copies of the Nicaragua Network News at www.nicanet.org
• <!--[endif]-->Attend the Gallo Pinto Get – Together 5:30 – 7:30pm, Saturday, March 19th

Presidential election time approaches in Nicaragua. We expect to focus on action regarding the 2006 election and the importance of helping our government stay true to its high ideal of allowing democracy to flourish through a free election process. Come join the discussion and a light meal at the home of Gay Greiter.

4920 Colfax Ave. S., Minneapolis

Call 612-822-8931 to reserve