Nicaragua

Ortega calls for referendum to renew mandate

Article published on the 2009-07-20 Latest update 2009-07-20 10:01 TU

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega with wife Rosario Murillo during Sunday's celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution.
(Photo: Reuters)

Following in the footsteps of his regional allies, Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega is seeking a referendum to change the country’s constitution and allow him to run for re-election.

Ortega made the announcement Sunday night - the 30th anniversary of his leftist Sandinista revolution that removed a decades-long dictatorship. He told thousands of supporters that he would seek a referendum to let "the people say if they want to reward or punish" their leaders with re-election.

Other allies who have had trailblazed a path enabling them to remain in power include presidents Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Evo Morales in Bolivia and Rafael Correa in Ecuador.

The move comes after President Manuel Zelaya, in neighboring Honduras, was ousted in a coup by his own military after seeking similar action.

Nicaragua’s constitution, amended since 1995, allows only one presidential term at a time and two non-consecutive terms.