NICARAGUA: DANIEL ORTEGA WILL NOT RECOGNISE LEGITIMACY OF GOVERNMENT

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• published: 23 Jul 2015
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Spanish/Nat Nicaraguan Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega has vowed that he will not recognise the legitimacy of President-elect Arnoldo Aleman's government despite official confirmation of his victory in last month's elections. Ortega refused to concede defeat, alleging fraud in Managua and Matagalpa provinces and demanding new voting there. Aleman was declared the official president elect by Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council late on Friday - over a month after polling day. Former Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega takes an early morning jog round one of the capital's parks - the leader of the left-wing Sandinista Front has finally been forced to face up to his defeat at the ballot box in last month's presidential elections. But Ortega refused to concede defeat, alleging fraud in Managua and Matagalpa provinces and demanding new voting there. His nearest rival, right-wing leader Arnoldo Aleman was declared the official president elect by Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council late on Friday - over a month after polling day. Ortega feels the decision is a blow to democracy in Nicaragua. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Translation: I believe it's a resolution that weakens the credibility of the electoral process. It weakens the democratic process in our country. I believe we have to act in an appropriate way so this situation can be overcome. We believe that we can overcome it if we have the willingness to do so". SUPER CAPTION: Daniel Ortega - head of Sandinista Front Arnoldo Aleman defeated former president and Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega by 51 percent to 37.7 percent in provisional results released by the council about two weeks ago - 17 days after the election. Political analysts have warned of unrest from Sandinista supporters, many of whom believe the elections were stolen from them by Liberal fraud. At Aleman's jubilant Liberal Alliance headquarters in Managua early on Saturday, the president-elect extended an olive branch to the Sandinistas, offering to work with them after he takes office in January. Ortega meanwhile remains defiant in the face of defeat. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Translation: "I believe the first thing that should be addressed is the situation created by this resolution of the Supreme Electoral Council. Because irregularity and fraud are being legitimised here and this is simply a blow to the Nicaraguan people and conspires against the credibility the Nicaraguan people have had in their vote". SUPER CAPTION: Daniel Ortega - head of Sandinista Front Officials are hoping the announcement by the Supreme Electoral Council will end the nasty post-election squabbling that threatened Nicaragua's stability and sullied its new democratic image. Ortega meanwhile will have plenty of time on his hands to decide what direction his new political career will take. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/af183ee48661ddfe492eb074ecc731cc Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork