Second Chance For Ortega?

Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega is hoping to be fourth time lucky and be elected by his fellow Nicaraguans in Sunday’s elections. The former Marxist guerrilla, who led the country between 1985 and 1990, has tried – unsuccessfully – to be re-elected no fewer than three times since then. Ortega was the favorite to beat off nearest rival, Harvard-educated Eduardo Montealegre, going into election day, yesterday, although polls have been notoriously wrong in the past. Any outright winner must win 40% of the votes or 35% with a 5 percentage-point lead over the nearest rival. If not, a second-round run-off is needed; something experts say would almost certainly mean the end of Ortega’s presidential bid. Outgoing president, Enrique Bolaños, has called for calm from all parties should a further round of voting be necessary.