Tuesday 06 January
2009, San José, Costa
Rica
Central America,
Not Yet a Priority for Obama
Turbulent New Year
in Nicaragua
Landslide Death Toll
Rises To 33 in Guatemala
76 Killed In Colombia's
Rainy Season
Cuban Monument Honors
Omar Torrijos
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Turbulent New Year in
Nicaragua
Managua -
Nicaraguans have
returned to regular
activities on Monday,
but the National
Assembly remains at a
standstill just 13 days
before elections are
held in seven
municipalities of the
Autonomous North
Atlantic Region.
Local media and experts
have warned such
immobilism would delay
the passage of bills and
result in the country
losing advantageous
foreign loans. The 2009
General Budget has not
been passed either by
the Parliament.
Failure to ratify a
20-million-dollar loan
from the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB)
caused Nicaragua to lose
that major credit, so
the national economy was
affected.
Some have tried to blame
it on the Sandinista
government of President
Daniel Ortega. However,
the efforts by the
ruling Sandinista
National Liberation
Front (FSLN) have
clashed against a
boycott by the liberals,
who undermined the
meetings to have the
funds and other acts
approved.
Over the next few days,
the Assembly must elect
its leaders for the 25th
Legislature, but so far,
internal divisions among
the liberals seem to
delay the crisis in
Parliament.
The liberals insist on
ignoring the results of
the November 2008
elections, where their
defeat was overwhelming.
Some analysts predicted
a turbulent new year in
Nicaragua, as elections
would take place in
seven municipalities on
the Autonomous North
Atlantic Region on
January 18.
The confrontational
environment in the
country, according to
government's
denunciations, is fueled
by foreign forces that
are trying to undermine
the achievements made by
major social programs.
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