Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega was sworn into office for his fourth consecutive term on Monday, hours after the United States and European Union imposed sanctions on several figures in his government following elections Washington has called a "sham".

Ortega won the Nov. 7 poll after most of his political foes were jailed, prompting widespread condemnation. US&nbsp;President Joe Biden called the election a "pantomime", accusing the former Marxist guerrilla and Cold War adversary of the United States of growing authoritarianism.

Most Western and regional nations shunned the inauguration ceremony on Monday evening, though leftist leaders such as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cuba's President Miguel Diaz Canel flew in to show their support.

China, which recently established ties with Nicaragua, also sent a delegation.

In a measured speech mostly focused on the history of the Sandinista rebellion against former US-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza, Ortega vowed to keep "growing dreams and building roads" for the Nicaraguan people.

But Ortega's opponents say the leader now presides over a government akin to that of Somoza, who was toppled by Ortega's leftist Sandinista guerrillas in 1979.

Laura Chinchilla, the former president of Costa Rica, called Ortega a "dictator" ahead of the ceremony.

"He shows his back to a people who did not vote for him, isolated from the world that does not recognize his election, under a legacy of horror and pain," Chinchilla said on Twitter.

Ortega's government, in power since 2007, did not respond to a request for comment.

Earlier in the day, the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on Nicaraguan officials, including the defence minister.

The sanctions come after a series of other actions Washington has coordinated with allies in recent months to increase pressure on Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo.

Ortega's first stint in power ended in 1990 and upon returning as president in 2007, he quickly set about gaining control of key state institutions, analysts say.

Election observers from the European Union and the Organization of American States were not allowed to scrutinize November's poll, and journalists were barred from entering Nicaragua.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States and partners would "continue to call out the Ortega-Murillo regime's ongoing abuses and will deploy diplomatic and economic tools to support the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in Nicaragua".

The US&nbsp;Treasury Department said in a separate statement it imposed sanctions on six Nicaraguan officials over accusations of state acts of violence, disinformation and targeting of independent media.

The Treasury action targeted the minister of defence as well as officials of the military, the company overseeing telecommunications and postal services, and the state-owned Nicaraguan Mining Company.

The US&nbsp;State Department is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on 116 people it accused of undermining democracy in Nicaragua, Blinken said, barring some mayors, prosecutors and police, prison and military officials, among others, from entering the United States.

Responding to the moves against him, Ortega said in his speech the United States and the European Union did not have the moral authority to impose sanctions.

"They don't respect international laws," Ortega said. 
&nbsp;

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega was sworn into office for his fourth consecutive term on Monday, hours after the United States and European Union imposed sanctions on several figures in his government following elections Washington has called a "sham".

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega was sworn into office for his fourth consecutive term on Monday, hours after the United States and European Union imposed sanctions on several figures in his government following elections Washington has called a "sham". Ortega won the Nov. 7 poll after most of his political foes were jailed, prompting widespread condemnation. US President Joe Biden called the election a "pantomime", accusing the former Marxist guerrilla and Cold War adversary of the United States of growing authoritarianism. Most Western and regional nations shunned the inauguration ceremony on Monday evening, though leftist leaders such as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cuba's President Miguel Diaz Canel flew in to show their support. China, which recently established ties with Nicaragua, also sent a delegation. In a measured speech mostly focused on the history of the Sandinista rebellion against former US-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza, Ortega vowed to keep "growing dreams and building roads" for the Nicaraguan people. But Ortega's opponents say the leader now presides over a government akin to that of Somoza, who was toppled by Ortega's leftist Sandinista guerrillas in 1979. Laura Chinchilla, the former president of Costa Rica, called Ortega a "dictator" ahead of the ceremony. "He shows his back to a people who did not vote for him, isolated from the world that does not recognize his election, under a legacy of horror and pain," Chinchilla said on Twitter. Ortega's government, in power since 2007, did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier in the day, the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on Nicaraguan officials, including the defence minister. The sanctions come after a series of other actions Washington has coordinated with allies in recent months to increase pressure on Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. Ortega's first stint in power ended in 1990 and upon returning as president in 2007, he quickly set about gaining control of key state institutions, analysts say. Election observers from the European Union and the Organization of American States were not allowed to scrutinize November's poll, and journalists were barred from entering Nicaragua. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States and partners would "continue to call out the Ortega-Murillo regime's ongoing abuses and will deploy diplomatic and economic tools to support the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in Nicaragua". The US Treasury Department said in a separate statement it imposed sanctions on six Nicaraguan officials over accusations of state acts of violence, disinformation and targeting of independent media. The Treasury action targeted the minister of defence as well as officials of the military, the company overseeing telecommunications and postal services, and the state-owned Nicaraguan Mining Company. The US State Department is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on 116 people it accused of undermining democracy in Nicaragua, Blinken said, barring some mayors, prosecutors and police, prison and military officials, among others, from entering the United States. Responding to the moves against him, Ortega said in his speech the United States and the European Union did not have the moral authority to impose sanctions. "They don't respect international laws," Ortega said.

Ortega sworn in as president for fourth term in Nicaragua

Nicaragua&#39;s leftist President Daniel Ortega has won a third straight term, with his colorful wife Rosario Murillo as vice president, results showed on Monday, but the opposition and the United States condemned the election.

With 99.8 per cent of ballots counted, the 70-year-old former Marxist rebel had 72.5 per cent of the vote, the country&#39;s Supreme Electoral Council said.

His nearest competitor, Maximino Rodriguez of the right-leaning Liberal Constitutionalist Party, had just 15 per cent.

Ortega, who has ruled Nicaragua for 20 of the past 37 years, has been accused of using the courts to limit the power of the opposition.

His opponents branded the election a &quot;farce&quot;, a criticism echoed by the United States, which said the &quot;flawed&quot; process had made free and fair polls impossible.

&quot;The Nicaraguan government sidelined opposition candidates for president, limited domestic observation at the polls... and took other actions to deny democratic space,&quot; State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

&quot;The decision by the Nicaraguan government not to invite independent international electoral observers further degraded the legitimacy of the election.&quot;

There was mixed reaction in Latin America.

Ortega received congratulations from several countries, including not only leftist allies in Cuba, Venezuela and El Salvador but also the government of Mexico.

However, President Luis Guillermo Solis of neighboring Costa Rica criticized the lack of international observers and real opposition.

As Ortega&#39;s opponents had urged Nicaraguans to boycott Sunday&#39;s vote, all eyes were on turnout.

Electoral officials said 68.2 per cent of voters cast ballots. The opposition gave a wildly different estimate: under 30 per cent.

Rejection of results

&quot;We don&#39;t recognise the results of this farce,&quot; Violeta Granera, head of one of the opposition parties, the Broad Front of Democracy, told reporters before the tally.

The opposition demanded new elections with international observers present.

Government and electoral officials described the vote as a great exercise in democracy, conducted in &quot;calm&quot; -- despite the torching of one rural polling station.

&quot;It&#39;s a vote for peace, for the security of the Nicaraguan people,&quot; Ortega said after casting his ballot.

By his side, Murillo, a poet and longtime government spokeswoman, said the polling was &quot;exemplary.&quot;

Ortega has strong support from Nicaragua&#39;s poor.

They account for more than a third of the population and have benefited from his social programs.

Ortega&#39;s supporters poured into the streets to celebrate, honking their car horns and waving white and blue Nicaraguan flags.

&quot;We expect him to keep fulfilling his promises, to keep giving us food and housing,&quot; one supporter, Maria Auxiliadora Monte, told AFP.

&quot;He is the best president we have had.&quot;

Nicaragua&#39;s powerful business interests have also been well-served by economic stability and security under Ortega and his party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).

But with billions of dollars in credit from troubled ally Venezuela drying up, and massive infrastructure projects, such as a proposed transoceanic canal to rival Panama&#39;s, failing to materialise, Nicaragua&#39;s prospects are clouding over.

Fourth mandate

It will be Ortega&#39;s fourth term. He has served two consecutive terms since 2007, and previously ruled between 1979 and 1990, when his Sandinista rebels emerged victorious from a revolution that toppled the dictatorial Somoza dynasty.

The opposition now accuses Ortega and Murillo of launching a dynasty of their own.

The eccentric first lady already plays a prominent role as the government&#39;s spokeswoman&nbsp;and is seen as possibly taking over as president in the future.

With Ortega increasingly reluctant to make public appearances, his 65-year-old wife known as &quot;Comrade Rosario&quot; &nbsp;has stepped up -- in her trademark colorful dresses and hippy-chic jewelry, as the administration&#39;s daily face.

&quot;The practice of &#39;couples in power&#39; is not exclusive to Nicaragua,&quot; Veronica Rueda Estrada, a Nicaragua expert and professor at Mexico&#39;s Quintana Roo University, told AFP.

She cited Cristina Kirchner, who succeeded her husband Nestor Kirchner as president of Argentina, and Hillary Clinton in the United States.

(AFP)

With 99.8 per cent of ballots counted, Ortega had 72.5 per cent of the vote. His nearest competitor, Maximino Rodriguez had just 15 per cent

Nicaragua's leftist President Daniel Ortega has won a third straight term, with his colorful wife Rosario Murillo as vice president, results showed on Monday, but the opposition and the United States condemned the election. With 99.8 per cent of ballots counted, the 70-year-old former Marxist rebel had 72.5 per cent of the vote, the country's Supreme Electoral Council said. His nearest competitor, Maximino Rodriguez of the right-leaning Liberal Constitutionalist Party, had just 15 per cent. Ortega, who has ruled Nicaragua for 20 of the past 37 years, has been accused of using the courts to limit the power of the opposition. His opponents branded the election a "farce", a criticism echoed by the United States, which said the "flawed" process had made free and fair polls impossible. "The Nicaraguan government sidelined opposition candidates for president, limited domestic observation at the polls... and took other actions to deny democratic space," State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. "The decision by the Nicaraguan government not to invite independent international electoral observers further degraded the legitimacy of the election." There was mixed reaction in Latin America. Ortega received congratulations from several countries, including not only leftist allies in Cuba, Venezuela and El Salvador but also the government of Mexico. However, President Luis Guillermo Solis of neighboring Costa Rica criticized the lack of international observers and real opposition. As Ortega's opponents had urged Nicaraguans to boycott Sunday's vote, all eyes were on turnout. Electoral officials said 68.2 per cent of voters cast ballots. The opposition gave a wildly different estimate: under 30 per cent. Rejection of results "We don't recognise the results of this farce," Violeta Granera, head of one of the opposition parties, the Broad Front of Democracy, told reporters before the tally. The opposition demanded new elections with international observers present. Government and electoral officials described the vote as a great exercise in democracy, conducted in "calm" -- despite the torching of one rural polling station. "It's a vote for peace, for the security of the Nicaraguan people," Ortega said after casting his ballot. By his side, Murillo, a poet and longtime government spokeswoman, said the polling was "exemplary." Ortega has strong support from Nicaragua's poor. They account for more than a third of the population and have benefited from his social programs. Ortega's supporters poured into the streets to celebrate, honking their car horns and waving white and blue Nicaraguan flags. "We expect him to keep fulfilling his promises, to keep giving us food and housing," one supporter, Maria Auxiliadora Monte, told AFP. "He is the best president we have had." Nicaragua's powerful business interests have also been well-served by economic stability and security under Ortega and his party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). But with billions of dollars in credit from troubled ally Venezuela drying up, and massive infrastructure projects, such as a proposed transoceanic canal to rival Panama's, failing to materialise, Nicaragua's prospects are clouding over. Fourth mandate It will be Ortega's fourth term. He has served two consecutive terms since 2007, and previously ruled between 1979 and 1990, when his Sandinista rebels emerged victorious from a revolution that toppled the dictatorial Somoza dynasty. The opposition now accuses Ortega and Murillo of launching a dynasty of their own. The eccentric first lady already plays a prominent role as the government's spokeswoman and is seen as possibly taking over as president in the future. With Ortega increasingly reluctant to make public appearances, his 65-year-old wife known as "Comrade Rosario" has stepped up -- in her trademark colorful dresses and hippy-chic jewelry, as the administration's daily face. "The practice of 'couples in power' is not exclusive to Nicaragua," Veronica Rueda Estrada, a Nicaragua expert and professor at Mexico's Quintana Roo University, told AFP. She cited Cristina Kirchner, who succeeded her husband Nestor Kirchner as president of Argentina, and Hillary Clinton in the United States. (AFP)

Daniel Ortega wins third consecutive term as Nicaragua president

nicaragua-president

Nicaragua President, News on Nicaragua President, stories on Nicaragua President, articles on Nicaragua President, Nicaragua President stories at Wion, Nicaragua President news, Nicaragua President latest news

nicaragua president

Ortega sworn in as president for fourth term in Nicaragua

Daniel Ortega wins third consecutive term as Nicaragua president