Nicaragua's 1996 Elections and Results (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Jan. 15, 1997 |
| Report Number |
96-835 |
| Authors |
Maureen E. Taft-Morales, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The acrimony surrounding Nicaragua's recent elections has raised new concerns for political
conciliation and stability there. Nicaraguans voted for president, the legislature, and other offices on
Sunday, October 20, 1996. It was more than a month later, however, before rightist Arnoldo Aleman
was officially declared the winner of the presidential race. Rightist Aleman, mayor of Managua from
1990-1995, defeated leftist Daniel Ortega, head of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
and president from 1985-1991, and 21 other candidates by a wide margin. After a highly polarized
race, Ortega's refusal to concede defeat and call for annulling the vote generated enormous political
tension after the elections. Other concerns about the electoral process included the effectiveness and
fairness of two different registration processes, the distribution of voter identification cards, and
numerous mistakes on election day. Both domestic and international observers described the
elections as flawed but fair.
