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Nicaraguans Would Deny New Term to Ortega
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few people in Nicaragua would give Daniel Ortega a new term in office, according to a poll by M&R published in La Prensa. 27.3 per cent of respondents would agree with the president’s re-election, while 63.4 per cent would oppose it.
In November 2006, Ortega—a member of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)—won the presidential election with 37.99 per cent of all cast ballots. Presidential candidates in Nicaragua are not compelled to garner more than 50 per cent of the vote in order to win the election.
Ortega governed from 1985 to 1990, but was a losing candidate in the 1990, 1996 and 2001 ballots. In January 2007, he was sworn in for a five-year term.
Consecutive presidential re-election is currently not permitted in Nicaragua. Since 1995, presidential re-election in the Central American country is only allowed once and in non-consecutive terms. Ortega has repeatedly suggested that the five-year presidential term is too short and that the current law, enshrined in the constitution, should be revised.
On Oct. 5, the opposition Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC) denounced Ortega for allegedly trying to "control" the Supreme Court in order to introduce an amendment to the Constitution that would allow him to run in the 2011 presidential election.
On Oct. 7, Dora María Téllez, leader of the Sandinista Renewal Movement (MRS), said that her party is "completely opposed to any constitutional amendment or maneuvering of any kind that intends to extend [presidential] re-election indefinitely," adding, "The problem in Central America is not the left against the right; the problem in Central America is the authoritarian exercise of power against the democratic exercise [of power]."
Polling Data
Would you support Daniel Ortega’s re-election?
|
|
Oct. 2009 |
Apr. 2009 |
Aug. 2008 |
|
Yes |
27.3% |
24.9% |
19.6% |
|
No |
63.4% |
66.4% |
70.9% |
|
Not sure |
9.3% |
8.7% |
9.5% |
Source: M&R / La Prensa
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Nicaraguan adults, conducted from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2, 2009. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.