I have heard that Nicaragua is a beautiful country to visit. The people do not deserve Daniel Ortega. He is 80 years old. Per the link below, his wife, Rosario Murillo, is running the country. Experts believe that she is most likely to succeed Daniel Ortega, after his passing. Nicaragua does not get as much attention as other countries with authoritarian regimes, like Venezuela and Cuba.
US has condemned the canceling of elections. But, seems willing to live with authoritarian ruler of Nicaragua, which lashes out at US policy towards Venezuela and Cuba.
Nicaragua is a mess, and unlike Venezuela, there is no opposition to the Ortega-Murillo regime. It is not that a socialist, leftist or communist country (call it for whatever name you want), but that it is a corrupt, authoritarian government. Ortega has eliminating elections. If they had them, they would be rigged.
Both right and left wing governments can take extreme, anti-democratic measures, to secure their power, so neither the congress or the judicial branch can restrain them. Daniel Ortega has systematically consolidated control over the nation’s military and police through constitutional and legal reforms that grant the presidency supreme authority over the armed forces. Historically tied to the Sandinista revolution alongside his late brother and former military chief Humberto Ortega, Ortega secures military loyalty through structural integration, property transfers, and alignment with external powers like Russia and China.
So, Ortega’s hold on the country is through gifts of property to military leaders. Cronyism in return for protection from the people you rule. It is why Ortega embraces the regimes of China and Russia. They understand him well.
Nicaragua is a poor country as measured by GDP per capita. Major exports are coffee, beef, sugar, and gold. Construction, commerce, mining, and tourism have driven recent internal economic activity and expansion.
And here is the twist. Communists turn capitalists fast when they smell profits. Also, they suddenly are not that nationalistic, as they grant large concessions to international mining companies, like the Canadian company, Calibre, to mine for gold. Gold has moved from the country’s third largest export to its top export, over coffee, beef and manufactured goods. The gold mining has dislodge many indigenous communities.
Tourism in Nicaragua has grown considerably recently, and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Nicaragua is mostly famous for its landscapes, flora and fauna, wildlife, culture, beaches, lakes, and volcanoes. See link below:
Another source of income are remittances, predominantly from the United States. This is a massive portion of the GDP and supports household consumption. It’s a familiar story. Immigrants in the US helping to support their families in Nicaragua.
So, as I began, a beautiful country with a terrible government. And, I don’t see much changing post-Ortega. I worry about the close relationship between Nicaragua and Russia. The common bonds are authoritarian rule and corruption through cronyism.
Stay tuned,
Dave