(16 Nov 1996) Spanish/Nat
Nicaraguan opposition leader, Daniel Ortega, continues to think that his Sandinista party won the October 20th general and presidential elections.
In an interview with APTV he talks about the elections, the important political role of the Catholic Church in his country and his political ideas.
Daniel Ortega campaigning in Managua on the run-up to October's election.
The Sandinistas were making a better comeback than anyone had expected.
Ortega spruced up his image, changing his military fatigues for a white shirt and a baseball cap.
And he was quickly closing the gap with the now president elect Arnoldo Aleman in pre- election polls.
But despite his staunch efforts, he couldn't pull-off an election win.
And since the results were known, Ortega has claimed the elections were rigged.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"In the cases of Managua and Matagalpa, there is enough proof that some electoral registers were falsified and then allowed to be used by polling station chiefs as well as the heads of departmental electoral juntas. We are talking about over 40% of the voting population. As things stand, we do not think the electoral council will give way to our demands for new elections in Managua and Matagalpa since this would through into doubt the whole national election. I see it as being very difficult if the council doesn't agree to our demands. We would undoubtedly be facing a situation in which fraud is legitimised and we would be facing a de facto government that we could not recognise. They broke the law. Specifically, the church, the electoral council and the department of state. Three main elements were influential: looking to sway the vote by violating the democratic spirit of these elections."
SUPER CAPTION: Daniel Ortega, Sandinista National Liberation Front leader
During his campaign, Ortega made an effort to come closer to the Catholic Church which remains very powerful in Nicaragua.
But he claims that all the main powers in the country gathered against his party, fearful of his victory which had become a distinct possibility.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"The Catholic Church is very important politically. It is clear that the Catholic Church is not playing a neutral role, but a very active one and we wanted the Catholic Church not to take sides along party lines, but to play a political role to help find stability and the solution to conflicts that were springing-up due to the weakness of institutions in this country."
SUPER CAPTION: Daniel Ortega, Sandinista National Liberation Front leader
Reflecting upon his policies, he added how a new way of governing was yet to be discovered, and in the meantime, socialists should resist the capitalist ideas.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We cannot tell the Nicaraguan people, nor other peoples in the world that Sandinistas have discovered an alternative to break the straitjacket imposed on the world by capitalists with their neo-liberal policies and that we have that proposal, and that we are going to take that proposal to government. I think that would be lying; I can't see that alternative right now. I can only see policies of resistance."
SUPER CAPTION: Daniel Ortega, Sandinista National Liberation Front leader
Ortega remains convinced that he and his party won the Nicaraguan elections.
He still believes he has the support of the Nicaraguan people.
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