Ortega Leads by Six Points in Nicaragua
September 1, 2006
- Former head of state Daniel Ortega remains ahead in Nicaragua’s presidential race, according to a poll by CID-Gallup published in La Prensa. 29 per cent of respondents would support the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) candidate in this year’s ballot, up six points since June.
Eduardo Montealegre of the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance - Conservative Party (ALN-PC) is second with 23 per cent, followed by José Rizo of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) and Edmundo Jarquín of the Sandinista Renewal Movement (MRS) with 14 per cent each, and Edén Pastora of Christian Alternative (AC) with one 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.
In an interview with the Associated Press published on Aug. 30, former Nicaraguan president Arnoldo Alemán acknowledged Ortega’s recent success, saying, "It is very possible that the FSLN will win, unless the Liberals unite."
In 2004, Alemán—who governed the country from 1997 to 2002—was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fraud, money laundering and embezzlement. The former president has been kept under house arrest due to medical reasons.
The Nicaraguan presidential election is scheduled for Nov. 5. In the event no presidential contender receives 40 per cent of all cast ballots, the first place finisher can only avoid a run-off by reaching the 35 per cent mark and holding a five-point advantage over the closest rival.
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the presidential election?
Aug. 2006
Jun. 2006
Apr. 2006
Daniel Ortega (FSLN)
29%
23%
16%
Eduardo Montealegre (ALN)
23%
17%
22%
José Rizo (PLC)
14%
11%
13%
Edmundo Jarquín (MRS)
14%
--
--
Edén Pastora (AC)
1%
1%
--
None / Undecided
19%
32%
28%
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
