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NICARAGUA
History

History

Independent State

In 1821 Nicaragua, as part of a Central American Federation, became independent from Spain. In 1838, the country becomes an independent state. The sometimes bloody struggle between conservatives and the more progressive liberals, who even call in the help of mercenaries from the US, determines the political landscape. Liberal and enlightened despot José Santos Zelaya, who came to power in 1893, introduced reforms. Examples are the separation of church and state, free education and investments in infrastructure. He also promoted the integration of the Eastern Caribbean part of Nicaragua within the nation. His refusal to agree to the construction of a canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific brings him into conflict with the US, which supports opposing forces and sends marines to Bluefields (1910). The US military presence would last, with a short interruption, until 1933. By means of "free and fair" elections and the creation of a professional army, the National Guard, the US wanted to promote an improvement of the political climate, which failed due to the recurring struggle between conservatives and liberals.

From 1925 onwards, the socialist-inspired revolutionary Augusto C. Sandino, who wanted to implement land reforms, fought against the US marines and the National Guard with a guerrilla army. In 1934, he was assassinated on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard, Anastasio Somoza. Sandino's name is later linked to one of the most important political movements in Nicaragua. The Somoza family ruled the country until 1979 and amassed considerable wealth.

Civil War

After years of bloody civil war, led by the Sandinista movement, President Somoza's regime became increasingly isolated, both nationally and internationally. In 1979, his National Guard lost in a fierce battle and he fled the country. A five-person Junta, which included Sandinistas as well as the widow of the murdered editor-in-chief of the opposition newspaper 'La Prensa', Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, took over the leadership of the country. A new army is formed from the former guerrilla units. However, the contradictions between the political goals of the Sandinistas, politically organised in the FSLN ("Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional") that establishes its own mass organisations, and the other political currents become increasingly clear. After an electoral victory of the Sandinistas in 1984, Daniel Ortega becomes president and Nicaragua gets a parliament.

Sandinistas in charge

The new Nicaragua is being built with a lot of international financial support. Part of the construction is the redistribution of the Somoza's property among cooperatives and also a land reform is taking place. The policy of the Sandinistas is aimed at reducing inequality as well as poverty and the development of the population. However, despite the positive results in the fields of literacy, education and health, the centralist-oriented development model does not lead to economic growth and prosperity. With US support, guerrilla units are formed in Honduras and Costa Rica (about 20,000 fighters in total, including former members of the National Guard) that occupy part of the country. The costs of this civil war cover about 60% of the government budget. The Reagan administration imposed a naval blockade and sealed off the port of the city of Corinto with sea mines. As a result of the Sandinista government's peculiar economic policies and the war burdens, a prolonged hyperinflation of 33,000 and 55,000% per annum occurs. The International Court of Justice in The Hague condemns the US to pay 16 billion dollars in reparations (waived by the new government in 1990).

Contras and liberals

The early elections called by the government in 1990 were won, against general expectations, by the opposition, united in the UNO (Union Nacional Opositora). Violeta Barrios de Chamorro became president and her son-in-law Lacayo prime minister. A few weeks later, a peace treaty with the "Contra" comes into force. The army was considerably reduced in size and the name changed from "Sandinista" to "national" (also in the police force). Armed actions by ex-Contras and ex-members of the Sandinista army continued to cause unrest well into the 1990s. The economy was transformed into a free market economy after a drastic adjustment.

The political polarisation created by the civil war determines the 1996 elections. The FSLN led by Daniel Ortega is defeated with 51% majority by the Liberal Alliance, led by the former mayor of the capital Managua, Arnoldo Alemán. Alemán is president until the national elections in November 2001.

21th century

These elections, observed by many national and international observers, were fair and calm and were won by the Liberal Party after a neck-and-neck race between Liberals and Sandinistas. Based on a "gentlemen's agreement" between Alemán (convicted in 2003 of extensive corruption) and Ortega, the so-called "pacto", the members of the Supreme Council, Supreme Electoral Council and General Audit Office are divided on a 50:0 basis between the FSLN and PLC members. This further weakens democracy by creating a de facto "two-party dictatorship". Although the Corte Centroamericana de Justicia (CCJ) ruled in March 2005 that this agreement violates the principle of separation of powers, this is not recognised by the PLC and FSLN.

The pact leads to the resignation of important segments of politicians from both parties. In 2005, a four-party system is formed and participates in the 2006 elections. On 10 January 2002, President Enrique Bolaños Geyer (as the PLC's candidate in the elections) took over the leadership of the country, bringing a new impetus to Nicaragua. In his inaugural speech, Bolaños distanced himself from his predecessor Alemán, emphasised the fight against corruption and said he would strive for independence of the judicial sector, the electoral authorities and the Court of Auditors. As a result of the cooperation between FSLN and PLC, there is an opposition majority in parliament. This situation has caused much tension in the country. Under the mediation of the OAS Subsecretary for Political Affairs, Dante Caputo, a political compromise has been reached between the parties, guaranteeing a minimum of governability in the country. This 'Ley Marco' freezes constitutional reforms until the new reelections.

Presidential and legislative elections took place on 5 November 2006. The elections were conducted in an orderly and transparent manner. Daniel Ortega was elected president with 38% of the votes. His party, the FSLN, virtually consolidated its number of seats in parliament (currently 38 out of 90), but will need to work with other parties to form a coalition government. The most likely prospect is continued cooperation with the PLC (after all a "pacto" partner), while pragmatic cooperation is sought with the ALN on specific policy issues. This will guarantee a stable start for the new government. In October 2007, the International Court in The Hague settled the territorial conflict between Nicaragua and Honduras.

In July 2009, President Ortega announced a plan to amend the constitution so that he could be re-elected again. In October 2009, the Constitutional Court gave up its opposition to this plan. In 2011, Ortega is re-elected as president by an overwhelming majority. In November 2012, the international court in The Hague settled a conflict between Colombia and Nicaragua. Nicaragua loses a number of islands to Colombia but sees a dispute over territorial waters decided in its favour. In August 2013, Nicaragua announces it will drill for gas in the area. In February 2014, Nicaragua changes its constitution. This clears the way for President Ortega to run for president again in 2016. The opposition argues that this change is undemocratic. The November 2016 presidential election is won by Ortega who runs for a third term with his wife Rosario Murillo as vice president.

In April 2018, President Ortega scraps proposed changes to social security after they sparked protests across the country that left several people dead.In the run-up to the 2021 presidential election, most prominent opposition candidates were arrested or forced into exile, leaving only five lesser-known candidates from mostly small parties allied with ORTEGA's Sandinistas to run against him. He also won the presidential election.


Sources

Elmar Landeninformatie

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated November 2024
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