Nicaragua's Leader, Wife Appear Headed To Win Election
Faizan Hashmi Published November 07, 2016 | 10:00 AM
MANAGUA, Nov 7, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) - Nicaragua held elections Sunday that look certain to hand another term to popular President Daniel Ortega, and make his wife vice president, but which the opposition said was marked by "massive" voter abstention.
Speaking just after casting his own ballot, and as polling closed at 6:00 pm (0000 GMT Monday), Ortega said "it's a vote for peace, for the security of the Nicaraguan people." results were expected within hours.
Pre-poll voter surveys predicted support as high as 70 percent for Ortega. Murillo, whom many see as already sharing power and well-positioned to go from vice president to head of state in the future, described the vote as "an exemplary election, a historic election." But the opposition, which has been sidelined by Ortega and largely booted out of the National Assembly by recent court decisions, questioned the legitimacy of the elections.
"It's obvious across the country that absenteeism was massive," the head of the opposition Broad Front for Democracy party, Violeta Granera, told reporters. "We calculate between 70 and 80 percent abstention," with voters notably staying away in areas traditionally loyal to Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front party, she said.
No preliminary turnout figures were released by officials during the day. But Telemaco Talavera, head of the National Council of Universities, accredited to monitor the vote, said before polls closed: "There has been an excellent turnout." Foreign observers were barred from monitoring the process.
But some Latin American officials -- including a couple of former presidents from Guatemala and Paraguay -- were invited to drop into polling stations to greet workers.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Over 37% Tobacco tax increase suggested to save lives, boost revenue
Mohsin Naqvi has offered a substantial incentive, pledging $100,000 to every pla ..
Citizens join Al Barsha Police in “An Hour for Dubai” Initiative
Art can be a powerful tool to relieve stress, Experts say at Sharjah Children’ ..
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
More Stories From World
-
Bodies in Mexico presumed to be missing surfers have bullet wounds to head
5 minutes ago -
Rublev battles past Auger-Aliassime to claim Madrid Open title
15 minutes ago -
Cesar Luis Menotti, football romantic who led Argentina to first World Cup
15 minutes ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
25 minutes ago -
Former Argentina World Cup winning coach Menotti dead at 85 - federation
25 minutes ago -
Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 48 games with win at Frankfurt
25 minutes ago
-
Rejuvenated Liverpool dent Tottenham's Champions League dreams
35 minutes ago -
Furious Moyes blasts West Ham flops after Chelsea run riot
35 minutes ago -
Teenager turns self in after attack on German politician
35 minutes ago -
Liverpool shatter Spurs' top four bid as Villa eye Champions League
55 minutes ago -
Troubled Milan held by Genoa in front of protesting fans
55 minutes ago -
University convocations in U.S. are flashpoints for protests over Israel's Gaza war: Reports
1 hour ago