Nicaraguan general election, 2011

The presidential election in Nicaragua in 2011 took place on 6 November 2011. The election was marked by extensive irregularities. President Daniel Ortega was re-elected with 63 percent of the vote to a third term, even though the country's constitution allows only two terms. The businessman and a consensus candidate Fabio Gadea of the PLI was almost 31 percent and former president Arnoldo Aleman, who can not leave the country due to corruption investigations, made ​​up 6 percent.

Contrary to earlier announcements, Daniel Ortega's international election observers were, inter alia, the Organization of American States approved. These reported irregularities and massive disabilities of their employees. In many cases, had been denied the election observers access to the voting stations. Representatives of the opposition had not been approved in all polling stations. In some parts of the country polling stations were set by opposition supporters on fire.

Candidates

When candidates were the head of the Sandinista Daniel Ortega, as well as for the right-wing parties ex-president Arnoldo Alemán ( Partido Liberal for Constitucionalista ) and the entrepreneur Fabio Gadea to.

Surveys

According to a poll by the Nicaraguan company M & R Consultores a vote share of 56.5 percent for the incumbent head of state Daniel Ortega was predicted. The candidate Fabio Gadea of the opposition coalition Unidad de Esperanza Nicaraguense ( Nicaraguan unit of Hope) could therefore expect only 14.1 percent of the vote, former President Arnaldo Alemán with 5.8 percent.

Results and reactions

According to preliminary results, the FSLN reached in the parliamentary elections 60.8 percent of the vote and won 60 of 92 seats so. The Partido Liberal Independiente came on 26, while the Partido Liberal Constitucionalista won 6 seats. In the presidential elections was, according to the official results, Ortega confirmed with 62.7 percent of the vote in office. His challenger Gadea came to 31.1 percent. On November 8, it came in the municipalities of Siuna and El Carrizo violent clashes between supporters of the FSLN and PLI. At least four people and more than a hundred, including about 50 police officers, were injured died.

On 17 November, the European Union observers described the election as " serious setback " for democracy in the country. They complained, among other things, the Premature announcement of the result by the electoral authority. The Episcopal Conference criticized the lack of transparency and honesty of the Authority.

On January 10, 2012 Ortega was sworn in as president. Attended the celebration at the Revolution square in Managua, in addition to about 8,000 guests, including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in part.