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Nicaraguan Congress over Slump
Nicaragua's National Assembly
ends five years of sessions
started January 2002, plagued
with controversy and tension.
The period involved the
polemical suit of President
Enrique Bolanos against ex
President Arnoldo Aleman
(1997-2001), who was stripped of
his legislative prerogatives and
charged with corruption.
The issue led to the
fragmentation of the Liberal
party into several smaller ones,
at times with two members alone.
A key shortfall is the low
number of laws approved, just 35
according to Parliament Chairman
Eduardo Gomez, compared to 59
passed in 2004.
The 92 member National Assembly
opening January 9 will discuss
more than ten new laws including
the issues of access to public
information, indigenous peoples,
coastal areas and water.
The Sandinista National
Liberation Front will have 38
seats, Liberal
Constitucionalista Party (25)
and Alianza Liberal Nicaraguense
(23).
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