Nicaragua: Ruling Liberal Party Under Fire, Rumors Swirl

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NICARAGUA: RULING PARTY UNDER FIRE

ALEMAN MAY RESIGN PRESIDENCY, SAYS NUEVO DIARIO;
LIBERAL PARTY CANDIDATE, ACCUSED OF WAR-MONGERING AND CORRUPTION

MANAGUA, Jan 17 (PL) Rumors abound in the ruling Constitutional Liberal
Party (PLC) and among officials close to Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman
about his possible resignation in March, Nuevo Diario newspaper reported
today.

A PLC member, who requested anonymity, asserted "there are strong rumors
circulating for several days in the presidential palace corridors and at PLC
national headquarters that a political bomb will explode in March, shaking
the foundation of constitutionalist liberalism and the whole country."
According to the source, the news will be Aleman's resignation from the
Republic's presidency to hinder Jose Rizo, candidate for the ruling party's
vice presidency, from being elected PLC president at the next Liberal
Convention.

Another anonymous source said that Aleman is thinking about resigning from
the country's highest position and is assessing various political scenarios
that can favor his attempt for reelection to Nicaragua's presidency in 2006.

The common element for both scenarios is to be reelected, Aleman must take
control of the PLC, PLC top leader rather than honorary party president, as
now.

"Aleman has always taken control of the Party, but we must remember that if
he finishes his administration as president next January and elections are
held, he will not have enough strength to regain PLC reins." Both PLC
members claimed to be confident that "Aleman will not allow Rizo to assume
the PLC presidency and the Republic's vice presidency -if the PLC wins
general elections next November. We are very positive about that." In
addition, they said, if the president presents his resignation in March, he
would continue governing the country. Everybody knows it would not be a
problem here due to his close ties with Vice President Leopoldo Navarro.

Another aspect considered by Aleman and revealed to El Nuevo Diario is that
if he resigns 10 months before concluding his term, the negative
consequences and possible electoral defeat of the PLC will not fall only on
him, but also on Navarro and the officials accompanying him until the end.
GM/CCS

 .

NICARAGUAN LIBERAL CANDIDATE ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION AND WAR MONGERING

MANAGUA, Jan 17 (PL) The candidate to the presidency by the ruling Liberal
Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Enrique Bolanos, was accused today of war
mongering by retired General Joaquin Cuadra and of corruption by
Representative Leonel Teller.

In statements to the press, Cuadra asserted that on two occasions during the
first months of President Arnoldo Aleman's administration, when there were
strong street protests, Bolanos, at that time Vice-President, suggested the
use of the army to repress the demonstrators.

According to Cuadra, who at that time was Chief of the National Army,
Bolanos' suggestion was rejected by the advisor and presidential godfather
Jaime Morales, who asked Bolanos, "How many dead do you want?" Morales added
that that war tanks would never be used against the population.

On both occasions in which Bolanos suggested the use of the military to
repress Nicaraguans, the possibilities of using police forces or finding a
peaceful solution to put an end to the situations has not been exhausted,
said Cuadra.

Therefore, Cuadra believes that Bolanos' appointment as candidate to the
presidency by the PLC -which has to be ratified by the Liberal Convention on
January 28- does not bode well for peace stability or consolidation, the
most important aspects attained by Nicaraguan people.

Joaquin Cuadra affirmed that Bolanos has publicly strongly stated and
defended two positions, one openly against the Army and the other against
the Sandinistas(left-wing).

Cuadra added he only knows of Bolanos' commitment to private enterprise
while he does not know anything about his social side.

Meanwhile, liberal dissident deputy Leonel Teller said that Bolanos is
corrupt because of evidence revealing that the he used bribery to pave the
way for the Canal Seco project, which would cross Nicaraguan from the
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

"This is known in Washington, Europe and Nicaragua," underscored Teller, who
today blamed the PLC presidential candidate for hindering the
materialization of this Nicaraguan project. OM/RA

(c) 2001 Prensa Latina, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.

 
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