- Former head of state Daniel Ortega remains the top contender in Nicaragua’s presidential race, according to a poll by Borge y Asociados. 31.4 per cent of respondents would vote for the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) member in this year’s election.
Eduardo Montealegre of the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance - Conservative Party (ALN-PC) is second with 29.1 per cent, followed by José Rizo of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) with 15.7 per cent, Edmundo Jarquín of the Sandinista Renewal Movement (MRS) with 15.2 per cent, and Edén Pastora of Christian Alternative (AC) with 1.1 per cent.
In 2001, the PLC’s Enrique Bolaños won the presidential election with 56.3 per cent of the vote. The PLC and the FSLN have traditionally been the dominant parties in the Central American country’s political scene. Montealegre once belonged to the PLC, and the MRS was assembled by former FSLN members.
In March 2005, the FSLN officially designated Ortega as its presidential nominee. Ortega governed from 1985 to 1990, but was a losing candidate in the 1990, 1996 and 2001 ballots.
Yesterday, Ortega claimed that Cuban president Fidel Castro "is active" and "holding telephone conversations with his friends." Castro has not been seen publicly since Jul. 31, when the Cuban government announced a "provisional transfer of duties" to vice-president Raúl Castro, Fidel’s brother, after the president suffered "an acute intestinal crisis, with sustained bleeding" which required immediate medical intervention.
The presidential election is scheduled for Nov. 5. In the event no contender receives 40 per cent of all cast ballots, the first place finisher can only avoid a run-off by holding a five-point advantage over the closest rival.
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the presidential election if the candidates were these?
Jul. 2006
Jun. 2006
May 2006
Daniel Ortega (FSLN)
31.4%
30.1%
28.4%
Eduardo Montealegre (ALN-PC)
29.1%
24.4%
26.5%
José Rizo (PLC)
15.7%
21.6%
17.1%
Edmundo Jarquín (MRS)
15.2%
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Edén Pastora (AC)
1.1%
1.0%
1.3%
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