Nicaragua Parliament Seeks Leader
Negotiations for the leadership of the Nicaraguan Parliament´s new directive board are likely to continue until election day on Monday, due to current differences between members of the PLC (Constitutionalist Liberal Party) and the FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front).

Both opposition parties agree with the government of President Enrique Bolaños that the 2006 parliamentary leadership should be plural. However, the issue is who the chair of the single-chamber entity will be.

The FSLN favours the re-election of fellow socialist Rene Nuñez, affirming he knew how to lead the legislative body amid the institutional crisis last year, while the PLC supports election of its leader Enrique Quiñonez.

The future legislative leader needs to obtain the support of at least 47 of the 91 Parliament members.

The PLC holds 42 seats, the FSLN 38, and the rest belongs to representatives of the so called Azul y Blanco Party, made up of small parties backing Bolaños and dissident liberals.

The Nicaraguan president is expected to call the three political forces for a meeting this week to try to find a solution.