Parole to Nicaraguan Ex President Provokes Controversy
Permission granted for ex president Arnoldo Alemán to move freely around the country and carry out propaganda activities is currently the focus of political debate in Nicaragua.

The decision of the National Prison System was announced on Friday by Aleman himself, who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2003 under corruption charges and was serving his term in his El Chile ranch, under the excuse of alleged health problems.

In opinion of political analysts Aldo Diaz Lacayo, the authorization is no surprise, as former Latin American presidents involved in corruption scandals have always received a "different treatment."

Diaz Lacayo, Sandinista ambassador-to-be to the UN, mentioned the examples of Fernando Collor de Mello (Brazil), and Carlos Andres Perez (Venezuela).

Aleman was president in Nicaragua in 1997-2002.

On Saturday, President Daniel Ortega accused owners of the daily La Prensa of being behind the permission granted ex president Arnoldo Aleman so than he can move countrywide to carry out his propaganda campaign.

"It is surprising that after meeting Jaime Chamorro and Hugo Hollman, from La Prensa, on Monday, Aleman gets this result of being allowed to move around the entire country," Ortega told journalists.