Nicaragua: Ortega ahead in first round (including updates)

With about 15% of votes counted Daniel Ortega is in the lead for Nicaragua’s next president. Certainly, Ortega’s past as a revolutionary leader was on the minds of most voters though he may have enough to avoid a runoff election.

In an interview with NPR, former U.S. president and election observer Jimmy Carter noted that no major problems occurred on Sunday inasmuch as there were minor problems with voting precincts unable to accommodate large crowds.

Official real time results can be seen here.

Update (1:45pm): Here's a thought- the Sandinistas may end up as the big winners when all is said and done not only if Ortega wins the presidency but if the Sandinistas also gain control of Nicaragua's Congress. As it stands now, the conservative Liberal Constitutional Party has 40 seats, 2 more than the Sandinistas. The Nicaraguan right could be in serious crisis if they lose the presidency and legislature to the Sandinistas. (Links via RTE (Ireland) and Monsters & Critics).

Update (4:30pm): Early, unofficial prognostications have Ortega winning the presidency in the first round with 40% of the vote and about 7-8% ahead of his nearest opponent. (Link via Bloomberg).

Update (8:30pm): With 61% of the votes officially counted, Daniel Ortega leads with 38.66% and by 7.66% over center-right candidate Eduardo Montealegre. If those results hold, Ortega will win the presidency outright. Montealegre has yet to concede due to allegations of voting irregularities. (Links via Consejo Supremo Electoral and Guardian UK).

Links- NPR, Reuters AlertNet, Monsters and Critics

Image- Washington Post (Ortega voting on Sunday along with his wife)

Tags- Nicaragua, election, international politics,