Just a quick note on the Nicaraguan elections. Frankly when we arrived we had no idea there was about to be a national election. However, one road trip left us in no doubt that something was up. It was pretty impressive... every house, car, and shop displayed some kind of sticker, colour, flag or poster to express their affliation.
In comparison to Australia it was quite a change to see political positions so openly expressed by the general public. Then again, they have good reason to get involved. Nicaragua only has national elections every 6 years and as the poorest country in the region they need effective goverment. It is also a country that has struggled to shape its own future with the US generally not liking left wing leaders, and funding the infamous contras. We read a brief history while on one of our routine 7 hour bus trips and Nicaragua is the best example of the hypocracy of the US who says it wants democracy, but only if it delivers a leader of its choosing. (The above photo is of a painting in leon and shows Ronald Regan sitting on the shoulders of a Mayan woman)
We spoke to an American living in Nica who said that US land owners were worried that if Ortega won office he might reclaim foreign owned land (as he did a similar thing in the 80s when he took power, and Chavez nationalised foreign owned national resources recently in Venezuela).
We now know that Ortega has won but I will be suprised if he does anything radical as foreign investment is so crucial to Nicaragua´s future. Still, it´s interesting to be here, in 2006 when the same issues are being fought over in Central America that have dominated here for the last 2 decades, only this time the US isn´t funding a war.
In comparison to Australia it was quite a change to see political positions so openly expressed by the general public. Then again, they have good reason to get involved. Nicaragua only has national elections every 6 years and as the poorest country in the region they need effective goverment. It is also a country that has struggled to shape its own future with the US generally not liking left wing leaders, and funding the infamous contras. We read a brief history while on one of our routine 7 hour bus trips and Nicaragua is the best example of the hypocracy of the US who says it wants democracy, but only if it delivers a leader of its choosing. (The above photo is of a painting in leon and shows Ronald Regan sitting on the shoulders of a Mayan woman)
We spoke to an American living in Nica who said that US land owners were worried that if Ortega won office he might reclaim foreign owned land (as he did a similar thing in the 80s when he took power, and Chavez nationalised foreign owned national resources recently in Venezuela).
We now know that Ortega has won but I will be suprised if he does anything radical as foreign investment is so crucial to Nicaragua´s future. Still, it´s interesting to be here, in 2006 when the same issues are being fought over in Central America that have dominated here for the last 2 decades, only this time the US isn´t funding a war.
posted by Jack & Nat at 6:46 PM
1 Comments:
Politics Latin American style.....classic!!
Jack,
You should throw you hat in the ring for El Presidente! I will come over and be your hatchetman. We will put on a song and a dance that no one will compete with... win.... then run the country broke and escape to Cuba with millions in a swiss bank account.
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