José Daniel Ortega Saavedra
President of Nicaragua
In office January 10, 1985 – April 25, 1990
Preceded by	Junta of National Reconstruction
Succeeded by	Violeta Barrios de Chamorro
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 10, 2007
Preceded by	Enrique Bolaños
Born	November 11, 1945 (1945-11-11) (age 61) La Libertad, Chontales
Nationality	Nicaraguan
Political party	Sandinista National Liberation Front
Spouse	Rosario Murillo

José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (born 11 November 1945) is the current President of Nicaragua. For much of his life, he has been an important leader in the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional or FSLN). Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the President of Nicaragua, for the 2006 presidential election results see: Nicaraguan general election, 2006 History of Nicaragua Presidentes de Nicaragua Categories: | ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Junta of National Reconstruction ruled Nicaragua between 1979 and 1984. ... Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (born October 18, 1929) is a Nicaraguan political leader and publisher. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Enrique José Bolaños Geyer (born 13 May 1928) was the President of Nicaragua from 2002 to 2007. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... La Libertad is a municipality in the Chontales department of Nicaragua. ... Chontales is a department in Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... “Sandinista” redirects here. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... This article is about the President of Nicaragua, for the 2006 presidential election results see: Nicaraguan general election, 2006 History of Nicaragua Presidentes de Nicaragua Categories: | ... “Sandinista” redirects here. ...

After a popular rebellion resulted in the overthrow and exile of Anastasio Somoza Debayle in 1979, Ortega became a member of the ruling multipartisan junta and was later elected president, serving from 1985 to 1990. His first period in office was characterized by socialist policies, internal dissent, hostility from the United States, and armed rebellion by U.S.-backed Contras. Anastasio (Tachito) Somoza Debayle (December 5, 1925 – September 17, 1980) was officially the forty-fourth and forty-fifth President of Nicaragua from May 1, 1967 to May 1, 1972 and from December 1, 1974 to July 17, 1979. ... General Augusto Pinochet (sitting) as head of the newly established military junta in Chile, September 1973. ... The Contras (from the Spanish term La Contra, short for movement of the contrarrevolucionarios) were the armed opponents of Nicaraguas FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional) Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle (which ended the Somoza dynasty), and continuing throughout the...

Ortega was defeated by Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in the 1990 presidential election, but he remained an important figure in Nicaraguan opposition politics. He was an unsuccessful candidate for president in 1996 and 2001 before winning the 2006 presidential election. ^[1] Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (born October 18, 1929) is a Nicaraguan political leader and publisher. ... Nicaragua will hold a general election on 5 November 2006. ...

Personal life

Early years

Ortega was born to a middle-class family in La Libertad, department of Chontales, Nicaragua. His parents, Daniel Ortega and Lidia Saavedra, were in opposition to the regime of Anastasio Somoza Debayle, and he was arrested for his own political activities at the early age of 15. In 1963 he attended the Universidad Centroamericana in Managua and quickly joined the then-underground FSLN.^[2] Ortega was imprisoned in 1967 for taking part in a bank robbery, he was released in late 1974 along with other Sandinista prisoners in exchange for Somocista hostages. After being released and serving 7 years in prison Ortega was exiled to Cuba, where he received several months of guerrilla training, he later returned to Nicaragua secretly.^[3] Ortega married Rosario Murillo in 2005, the mother of his seven children.^[4] La Libertad is a municipality in the Chontales department of Nicaragua. ... Chontales is a department in Nicaragua. ... Anastasio (Tachito) Somoza Debayle (December 5, 1925 – September 17, 1980) was officially the forty-fourth and forty-fifth President of Nicaragua from May 1, 1967 to May 1, 1972 and from December 1, 1974 to July 17, 1979. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The University Centroamericana (Spanish: Universidad Centroamericna, UCA) is a university located in Managua, Nicaragua. ... Coordinates: Country Nicaragua Department Managua Municipality Managua Founded 1819 Seat of the Government 1852 Capital of the Nation 1857  - Mayor Dionisio Marenco Area    - City 544 km²  - Urban 173. ... “Sandinista” redirects here. ... It has been suggested that Safecatch be merged into this article or section. ... Somoza was the name of an influential family dictatorship in Nicaragua. ... Guerilla may refer to Guerrilla warfare. ...

The Sandinista Revolution (1979-1990)

For more details on Ortega’s past presidency, see Sandinista National Liberation Front. “Sandinista” redirects here. ...

When Somoza was overthrown by the FSLN in July 1979, Ortega became a member of the five-person Junta of National Reconstruction, which also included Sandinista militant Moisés Hassan, novelist Sergio Ramírez Mercado, businessman Alfonso Robelo Callejas, and Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, the widow of a martyred journalist. The FSLN came to dominate the junta, Robelo and Chamorro resigned, and Ortega became the de facto ruler of the country. The Junta of National Reconstruction ruled Nicaragua between 1979 and 1984. ... Sergio Ramírez Mercado (b. ... Alfonso Robelo Callejas (born 11 October 1939), a Nicaraguan businessman, was a member of Los Doce and founder of the Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN). ... Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (born October 18, 1929) is a Nicaraguan political leader, publisher and former President of Nicaragua. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without...

In 1981, U.S. President Ronald Reagan condemned the FSLN for joining with Soviet-backed Cuba in supporting Marxist revolutionary movements in other Latin American countries such as El Salvador. The Reagan Administration authorized the CIA to begin financing, arming and training rebels, some of whom were former officers from Somoza's National Guard, as anti-Sandinista guerrillas. These were known collectively as the Contras. This also led to one of the largest political scandals in US history, (Iran-Gate or the Iran Contra Affair), when Oliver North and several members of the Reagan Administration defied the Boland Amendment, and going against the US Congress, helped sell arms to Iran, using the proceeds to fund the Contras. Between 1980 and 1989, over 30,000 Nicaraguans died in the conflict between the Sandinista government and the Contras. ^[5] Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the fortieth President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the thirty-third Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ... Soviet redirects here. ... Marxism takes its name from the praxis (the synthesis of philosophy and political action) of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... The Contras (from the Spanish term La Contra, short for movement of the contrarrevolucionarios) were the armed opponents of Nicaraguas Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle (which ended the Somoza dynasty), and continuing throughout the following decade. ... In the Iran-Contra Affair, United States President Ronald Reagans administration secretly sold arms to Iran, which was engaged in a bloody war with its neighbor Iraq from 1980 to 1988 (see Iran-Iraq War), and diverted the proceeds to the Contra rebels fighting to overthrow the leftist and... Oliver Laurence North (born October 7, 1943) is most well known for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. ... The Boland Amendment was an amendment to the House Appropriations Bill of 1982, which was attached as something known as a Barnacle Bill, or provision that would not be expected to pass on its own merit, to the Defense Appropriations Act of 1983. ... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... The Contras (from the Spanish term La Contra, short for movement of the contrarrevolucionarios) were the armed opponents of Nicaraguas FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional) Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle (which ended the Somoza dynasty), and continuing throughout the...

In November 1984, Ortega called national elections; he won the presidency with 63% of the vote and took office on January 10, 1985. According to the vast majority of independent observers, the 1984 elections were perhaps the freest and fairest in Nicaraguan history. A report by an Irish parliamentary delegation stated: "The electoral process was carried out with total integrity. The seven parties participating in the elections represented a broad spectrum of political ideologies." The general counsel of New York's Human Rights Commission described the election as "free, fair and hotly contested." A study by the U.S. Latin American Studies Association (LASA) concluded that the FSLN (Sandinista Front) "did little more to take advantage of its incumbency than incumbent parties everywhere (including the U.S.) routinely do." January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ...

Thirty-three percent of the Nicaraguan voters cast ballots for one of six opposition parties--three to the right of the Sandinistas, three to the left--which had campaigned with the aid of government funds and free TV and radio time. Two conservative parties captured a combined 23 percent of the vote. They held rallies across the country (a few of which were disrupted by FSLN supporters) and blasted the Sandinistas in terms far harsher than Mondale's 1984 critiques of incumbent Reagan. Most foreign and independent observers noted this pluralism in debunking the Reagan administration charge--prominent in the U.S. press--that it was a "Soviet-style sham" election.^[6] Some opposition parties boycotted it, under pressure from U.S. embassy officials, and it was denounced as being unfair by the Reagan administration.^[7] Reagan thus maintained that he was justified to continue supporting the Contras' "democratic resistance".^[8] Look up Boycott in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the fortieth President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the thirty-third Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ...

Interim years

In the 1990 presidential election, 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 National Opposition Union (Union Nacional Opositora, UNO), an alliance that ranged from conservatives and liberals to communists. Contrary to what most observers expected, Chamorro shocked Ortega and won the election. In Ortega's concession speech the following day he vowed to keep "ruling from below" a reference to the power that the FSLN still wielded in various sectors. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (born October 18, 1929) is a Nicaraguan political leader, publisher and former President of Nicaragua. ... National Opposition Union(Unión Nacional Opositora--UNO) was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaraguas president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. ...

Ortega ran for election again, in October 1996 and November 2001, but lost on both occasions to Arnoldo Aleman and Enrique Bolaños, respectively. 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. A piñata during a Mexican celebration in a German amusement park The worlds largest piñata. ...

Ortega's policies became more moderate during his time in opposition, and he gradually reduced much of his former Marxist rhetoric in favor of an agenda of more moderate democratic socialism. His Catholic faith has become more intense in recent years as well, leading Ortega to embrace a variety of socially conservative policies; in 2006 the FSLN endorsed a strict law banning all abortions in Nicaragua. Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Social conservatism is a belief in traditional morality and social mores and the desire to preserve these in present day society, often through civil law or regulation. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

In 1998, Daniel Ortega's stepdaughter Zoilamerica Narvaez released a 48-page report describing her allegations that Ortega had systematically sexually abused her for 9 years beginning when she was 11.^[9]

The case could not proceed in Nicaraguan courts because Ortega had immunity from prosecution as a member of parliament, and the five year statute of limitations for sexual abuse and rape charges was judged to have been exceeded.

Narvaez complaint was heard by the Inter American Human Rights Commission on March 4, 2002. ^[10]

In 2006, UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer expressed concern that election of Ortega, described as having "highly substantiated" charges of sexual abuse raised against him, to the Presidency of Nicaragua, could undermine worldwide NGO efforts against child abuse and sexual violence.^[11] UN Watch is an Geneva-based NGO that is critical of the United Nations, and in particular what it sees as support for countries opposed to Israel, and also its actions against Israel. ...

Current activities

FSLN-PLC Alliance in the National Assembly

Ortega was instrumental in creating the controversial strategic pact between the FSLN and the Constitutional Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Constitucionalista, PLC). This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Nicaraguan political parties | Liberal parties ...

The controversial alliance of Nicaragua's two major parties aimed at distributing the powers between the PLC and FSLN, preventing other parties from rising. "El Pacto," as it is known in Nicaragua, is said to have personally benefited former presidents Ortega and Alemán greatly, while constraining then president Enrique Bolaños. One of the key accords of the pact was to lower the percentage necessary to win a presidential election in a first round from 45% to 35%, a change in electoral law that would become decisive in the 2006 elections. José Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo was President of Nicaragua from 1997 to 2002. ... Enrique José Bolaños Geyer (born 13 May 1928) was the President of Nicaragua from 2002 to 2007. ...

2006 Presidential Election

The 2006 Nicaraguan presidential election was held on November 5, 2006. FSLN presidential candidate Ortega was the victor in the November elections, having attained 37.99% of the votes cast. The Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN) gained 28.30%, the Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC) won 27.11%, the Movement for Sandinista renewal (MRS) 6.29% and the Alternative for Change (AC) 0.29%. The FSLN were the party out in force to celebrate a victory the night after the election took place on November 6. Following his election, Ortega was congratulated by Hugo Chávez, the president of Venezuela, and Fidel Castro, the president of Cuba.^[12]. Nicaragua will hold a general election on 5 November 2006. ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (IPA: ) (born July 28, 1954) is the current President of Venezuela. ... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ...

Herty Lewites— who was also running for president prior to his death in July 2006 —suggested that Ortega's pact with Alemán had given Ortega de facto control of the bodies responsible for administering the election, and thus that Ortega would most likely have been the winner. Under the old law, Ortega would have gone to a second round against Eduardo Montealegre (he would have needed 45% instead of 35%.) International observers, including the Carter Center, judged the election to be free and fair. Ortega was congratulated by telephone by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez who chanted "long live the Sandinista revolution!" The White House confirmed on January 8, 2007 that President Bush had also called Ortega to congratulate him on his election victory. Herty Lewites Herty Lewites Rodríguez (born December 24, 1939) is a Nicaraguan politician. ... Eduardo Montealegre (born in Managua, May 9, 1955) is a Nicaraguan politician. ...

Ortega's second presidency

In his first week as President of Nicaragua Ortega met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The two heads of state toured shantytowns in the Nicaraguan capital Managua. Ortega told the press that Iran and Nicaragua were two countries who "share common interests and [have common] enemies". Ortega also suggested that the two countries would sign agreements to help reduce poverty in Nicaragua. ^{[13] [14]}   (Persian: ‎ ​, IPA: ), transcribed into English as Mahmud or Mahmood, Ahmadinezhad, Ahmadi-Nejad, Ahmadi Nejad, Ahmady Nejad) (born October 28, 1956) is the current president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. ... Coordinates: Country Nicaragua Department Managua Municipality Managua Founded 1819 Seat of the Government 1852 Capital of the Nation 1857  - Mayor Dionisio Marenco Area    - City 544 km²  - Urban 173. ...

As of June 2007, a CID-Gallup survey published in the Managua daily La Prensa found that Ortega's approval level had dropped significantly, 26% of Nicaraguans having a positive image of his handling of the job, 36% a negative impression, and the remaining a neutral impression. The poll also indicated that 54% were still optimistic about Ortega and the government, in particular the health and education policies. Another 51% thought he has governed little or nothing democratically. Additionally, 57% of Nicaraguans believe the country is on the "wrong track", and only 31% believe that the country is on the "right track". CID-Gallup surveyed 1,258 people throughout the country and had a margin of error of more or less 2.5%.^[15] June 2007 is the sixth month of that year. ... Statistical surveys are used to collect quantitative information about items in a population. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City by Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... La Prensa is a Nicaraguan newspaper, with offices in the capital Managua. ...

External links

• Office of the President
• La Voz del Sandinismo - News of the FSLN, Nicaragua and the World
• CNN Cold War: Interview with Daniel Ortega
• The Christian Science Monitor, September 15, 2005, profile of Daniel Ortega
• An old-school Yankee-basher’s new tune is popular in Nicaragua
• El Nuevo Diario
• Time magazine
• MSNBC, "Leftward Tilt: Political Shift in Latin America"