Polls & Research

Nicaraguans Distrust Ortega on Amendments

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Nicaragua believe the leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) will not keep his word on a commitment recently made to the country's government, according to a poll by M&R published in La Prensa. 67 per cent of respondents think Daniel Ortega will not wait until after the next election to pursue a series of constitutional amendments.

Nicaragua's political scene has been unstable since president Enrique Bolaños lost the support of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) in January 2002, when his government decided to take legal action against former president Arnoldo Alemán. Last year, Alemán—who governed the country from 1997 to 2002—was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fraud, money laundering and embezzlement.

In November 2004, PLC and FSLN lawmakers at the National Assembly introduced a series of constitutional reforms that restrict presidential powers, by allowing the legislative branch to ratify, summon and dismiss government ministers. In January, the Central American Court of Justice (CCJ) unanimously ruled that the Nicaraguan legislative branch must not go ahead with the proposed reforms. Bolaños has so far refused to sanction the amendments.

Earlier this month, Bolaños sent a proposal to the legislative branch, seeking to postpone all constitutional amendments until 2007. Ortega has said the FSLN's 38 lawmakers in the 90-seat National Assembly would support the president's plan.

The next presidential and legislative election is scheduled for November 2006.

Polling Data

Do you think Daniel Ortega will stand by his commitment to wait until after the next election to pursue a series of constitutional amendments?