granma.cu -
The people for President
Joaquín Rivery Tur
THIS title, President Daniel Ortega’s campaign slogan during his reelection bid, was taken to heart by Nicaragua’s people, reflecting the desire of the broad masses in this small Central American country to consolidate the "Christian, socialist project of solidarity," as the Sandinista leader said during his swearing-in ceremony, held in Managua’s renovated Augusto Cesar Sandino Plaza de la Revolución.
Over the last five years, along with managing the economy well, the FSLN administration implemented a number of successful social programs, including Zero Hunger, Zero Usury (vs. predatory lending), Solidarity Subsidies, as well as free education and health care, which were the core of the program which led to Ortega’s reelection by a wide margin, with 62% of the vote, in last November’s elections
No less important was the FSLN’s securing of more than two thirds of the seats in Parliament, making possible the introduction of constitutional reforms which can better support an attack on the country’s fundamental problems: poverty and a neoliberal economic model.
Ortega assumed the Presidency for another term before a huge crowd of his people and delegations from more than 30 countries, some led by heads of state, including Hugo Chávez (Venezuela) and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Iran), as well as vice presidents such as Ramiro Valdés (Cuba) and Alvaro García Linera (Bolivia), among the many distinguished guests attending the lively ceremony.
"All of humanity is demanding peace with dignity, with work, with justice … With peace we can confront the great challenges before us of poverty, extreme poverty, which are the product of the economic model," Ortega said in his 90-minute inauguration message to his people.
Confronting the economic crisis by replacing the current economic model with one based on love, justice and solidarity – not attempting to save the neoliberal model – will hopefully be considered since, as Ortega emphasized, "There is no room for savage capitalism on this planet."
The President, who will serve through 2016, affirmed that the world needs a new framework based on complementarity, solidarity and unconditioned cooperation, fair trade and marketing, as well as an end to economic sanctions imposed for political reasons. "As long as the prototype in agony holds on to life, the situation is going to remain explosive," Ortega said.
Nicaragua has additionally benefited from resources from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and the government was able to support small- and medium-sized producers. Even segments of the middle class have benefited from the broad implementation of social policies such as free education and health care.
The FSLN administration’s record is very different from that of 17 years of neoliberal governments, which led the country to ruin and allowed the people to be robbed. Ortega’s presidency promoted a vision of good government, functioning honorably and focusing on the people’s needs. Undoubtedly, Nicaraguan politics have taken a qualitative leap forward.
Ortega asserted that his administration will continue to focus on ensuring dignity for Nicaraguan families, with special attention to women and youth.
Given the Sandinista slate’s resounding victory, many analysts are wondering if the Nicaraguan right will show a bit of humility and contribute to the development of the country, or make it more difficult, as has been the case over the last five years.
No comments:
Post a Comment