Nicaragua's Sandinistas extend control at local level

The ruling leftist Sandinista party expanded its hold on mayoral offices across Nicaragua in weekend local elections, officials said. Facing a divided opposition, President Daniel Ortega's Sandinista Front (FSLN) boosted its share of the 153 Nicaraguan mayor's offices from 109 to 134, according to nearly complete vote results. The Sandinistas retained control of the capital Managua, which it has governed for the past 12 years, and won in municipalities historically governed by right-wing parties -- including regions where the Sandinista government battled US-funded "Contra" rebels in the 1980s. The ruling party had a stunning 75 percent of votes cast, election officials said, adding that turnout in the Central American nation was around 57 percent. The Sandinistas now "have complete responsibility for whatever happens. That is a very serious thing," said analyst Sofia Montenegro. She said low turnout reflected public disenchantment with a government that, instead of reaching out to opponents, has burned all its bridges. Among opposition forces in the fight are the conservative Independent Liberal Party and Liberal Constitutionalist Party. Also in the mix were three parties that some opposition members say are aligned with the government: Alliance for the Republic, the Conservative Party and Independent Liberal Alliance. In Washington, the US State Department voiced transparency concerns. "The US government is concerned that the municipal elections... failed to demonstrate a degree of transparency that would assure Nicaraguans and the international community that the process faithfully reflected the will of the Nicaraguan people," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. She cited "widespread complaints" about the "partisan manner in which Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council managed the process in the runup to and on election day to the advantage of the ruling party." Election day problems included "citizens being denied the right to vote, a failure to respect the secrecy of citizens' votes," and voters "being allowed to vote multiple times," Nuland charged. The rebel Sandinistas first came to power when they toppled dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. One of its guerrilla leaders, Daniel Ortega, was elected president in 1985 for a five-year term. He was followed by three right-wing presidents, then re-elected in 2007 and again in 2011.