Reuters - Video

Edition: US | UK | IN | CN | JP

video Video

Bernanke steps into the spotlight
Bernanke steps into the spotlight - 02:13
The official royal wedding guest list revealed
The official royal wedding guest list revealed - 01:23
Shuttle astronauts arrive at Cape Canaveral
Shuttle astronauts arrive at Cape Canaveral - 01:18
Waiting for Bernanke
Waiting for Bernanke - 01:51
Hospital staff flee border fighting
Hospital staff flee border fighting - 01:10
Thousands at Sai Baba funeral
Thousands at Sai Baba funeral - 01:03
Al Qaeda releases hostage messages
Al Qaeda releases hostage messages - 01:43
Obama calls birth controversy \
Obama calls birth controversy "distracting" - 05:29
Three blasts hit Kirkuk
Three blasts hit Kirkuk - 01:25
Protests intensify in Yemen
Protests intensify in Yemen - 01:24
Border clashes displace thousands
Border clashes displace thousands - 01:50
S&P Credit Rating Warning Helpful - Lister
S&P Credit Rating Warning Helpful - Lister - 00:53

Ortega wins landslide re-election

Tuesday, November 08, 2011 - 02:16

Nov 8 -Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega cruises to a landslide re-election victory. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is re-elected in a landslide victory. The socialist former guerilla leader had 62.7 percent of the vote in returns from 86 percent of pollings stations. This was twice the tally his closest rival, Fabio Gadea received. However, the Supreme Electoral Council noted votes from 16 polling stations could not be counted. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SUPREME ELECTORAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERTO RIVAS, SAYING: "We won't know the results from 16 polling booths because election material was burnt by activists from the Liberal Independent Party. I would like to emphasize this is an open and clear violation of human rights for Nicaraguan citizens who were not able to express themselves due to this vandalic attitude." Gadea refused to accept the results. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ORTEGA'S CLOSEST RIVAL, CONSERVATIVE RADIO PERSONALITY FABIO GADEA, SAYING: "We can't accept the results presented by the Supreme Electoral Council because they don't express the will of the people nor the will of the electoral council." International election observers said voting irregularities had not changed the final outcome. And on the streets of Managua, it was a celebratory mood. The huge victory margin is a personal triumph for Ortega who was long a divisive figure. Though he was popular among supporters of his party. Many distrusted him and he was despised by business leaders due to the economic chaos in his first term as president in the 1980s. Now, it is a different story. He has overseen economic improvements and pushed policies aimed at combating poverty. However, opponents say he bent the rules to get re-elected. In 2009, a ban on consecutive terms was overturned, causing some to worry Ortega had plans to further extend his rule, just as Hugo Chavez has in Venezuela. Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters

Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code

Close

Ortega wins landslide re-election

Tuesday, November 08, 2011 - 02:16

Featured Videos

UK royals Kate and William have baby boy

UK royals Kate and William have baby boy

It's a boy. Britain's Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to her third child, and second son, with husband Prince William
Aussie pilot Hall soars to victory in Cannes

Aussie pilot Hall soars to victory in Cannes

Australian pilot Matt Hall claims victory in the second leg of the Red Bull Air Race world championship in Cannes, France
Luxury liner Queen Elizabeth II reopens as floating hotel

Luxury liner Queen Elizabeth II reopens as floating hotel

One of the world's most famous ships is now a floating hotel permanently moored at Dubai's Mina Rashid port
World Toad in the Hole Championships

World Toad in the Hole Championships

The aim of the traditional pub game originating from France is to land as many large brass coins or 'toads' in a table's small hole
Tarantula burgers on the menu

Tarantula burgers on the menu

For adventurous diners, tarantula topped burgers are available at a Durham, North Carolina restaurant as part of its ‘exotic meat’ month