(10 Jan 1995) Spanish/Nat

Nicaragua has voted in a new parliamentary leadership against the opposition of the Sandinista hard-liners.

The victory signals further progress for President Violeta Chamorro's government in continuing constitutional change.

The Sandinistas feel the changes are contrary to what they fought for and are taking the country too far to the right.

The National Assembly re-elected Luis Guzman as its speaker after days of heated exchanges with Sandinistas hard-liners, who unlike Guzman oppose the constitutional changes.

But Guzman is seen in Nicaraguan politics as a peace maker as well as being a committed democrat.

His re-election is seen as safeguarding the new constitution.

In another ceremony President Chamorro swore in 20 new members of her cabinet, making a team that she believes will keep the government abreast of its new progressive agenda.

The Sandinistas not only lost the parliamentary battle, they have also lost another of their leaders, Maria Ramirez who resigned.

SOUNDBITE: The Sandinista Front was using intimidating dirty tricks against its own membership. I could not allow for this situation to continue so I decided to resign as a member of the party."
SUPER CAPTION: Maria Ramirez, Ex-Sandinista Leader

During her keynote speech before the National Assembly, Chamorro tried to strike a conciliatory note.

SOUNDBITE: "As president of the republic and as a Nicaraguan citizen, I urge this assembly to work together to approve a new constitution that serves the country during our democratic transformation."
SUPER CAPTION: Violeta Chamorro, Nicaraguan President.

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