Back To The Future In Nicaragua

Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist revolutionary who fought a U.S.-backed insurgency in the 1980s, is returning to the presidency calling for reconciliation, stability and a renewed effort to pull Nicaragua out of poverty.

Ortega's election victory, confirmed by officials on Tuesday, adds another nation to Latin America's leftist bloc and Venezuela's anti-U.S. leader Hugo Chavez immediately said the two countries would be "uniting as never before" to construct a socialist future.

In his post-victory comments, however, Ortega laid out more moderate goals, saying he would work to eliminate poverty in the Western Hemisphere's second-poorest country after Haiti. He also reassured investors he was open to business and promised to "create a new political culture" that would "set aside our differences and put the Nicaraguan people, the poor first."

"We are showing the country that things are stable, that we can set aside our political positions and put first our commitment to pull Nicaragua out of poverty," he said in a brief speech. He was expected to address supporters at length in a rally on Wednesday afternoon.

His supporters waved black-and-red party flags and singing Ortega's campaign song, set to the tune of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."

In an interview with The Associated Press earlier Tuesday, Ortega's vice president, Jaime Morales, a former Contra who was once one of Ortega's biggest enemies, said the first thing the new administration would do is "talk immediately with all the businessmen to maintain their confidence and reassure them that everything's fine."

The United States, which had warned against a win by the former revolutionary, did not immediately comment on the results. But former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who served as an election observer, said Tuesday in Managua that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "assured me that no matter who was elected, the U.S. will respond positively and favorably."

With 91 percent of the votes tallied, Ortega had 38 percent of the votes compared to 29 percent for Montealegre. Under Nicaraguan law, the winner of Sunday's election must have 35 percent of the vote and a lead of 5 percentage points to avoid a runoff vote.

Rival Eduardo Montealegre conceded defeat, congratulated Ortega and called for reconciliation: "Nicaragua needs to move forward. The people have suffered enough."

It was a major turnaround after three failed bids for the president for the 60-year-old leftist, capping a 16-year quest to return to his old job. He says he has changed profoundly since he befriended Soviet leaders, expropriated land and fought Contra rebels in a war that left 30,000 dead and the economy in shambles.

Ortega lost the presidency in 1990, ending Sandinista rule and the Contra war. He has run for president in every election since.

"I'm happy that at last we have won," said Maria Rosario Ruiz, 34. "I voted in the last two election, and we've finally won!"

Ortega toned down his once-fiery rhetoric during the campaign, promising to support a regional free trade agreement with the U.S. and maintain good relations with Washington.

Montealegre said he and his party's lawmakers would spend the next five years ensuring that Ortega stayed true to his pledges to promote private business and allow a free press.

Montealegre's newly formed Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance emerged as the strongest opposition party in Congress, with 27 percent of the vote compared to 38 percent for the Sandinistas. The exact number of seats for each party haven't yet been assigned.

While Ortega loyalists danced across Nicaragua, some in the middle and upper classes warned that Ortega will scare away investment, jeopardize U.S. relations and even plunge the country back into civil war.

Since Ortega's defeat in 1990, U.S. money has flowed to Nicaragua in the form of investments by foreign companies drawn by the country's cheap labor, low crime rates and recent decision to join the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

Latin American leftists leaders congratulated Ortega on his win. Chavez has tried to help Ortega by shipping discounted oil to energy-starved Nicaragua.

During a congratulatory telephone call with Ortega, Venezuela's leftist leader said his victory boosted what he called rising power of the left in Latin America.

"We're happy here. We're very proud of you," Chavez said during a televised speech Tuesday as he called Ortega by cellular phone.

Ortega could be heard replying with praise for Chavez's leadership.

"You are showing us the path," he said "Long live Venezuela!"