Nicaraguan bishop applauds participation in presidential election

Published: 2006-11-07

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (CNS) -- A bishop in northern Nicaragua applauded the high citizen participation in his country's presidential election and the smoothness of the electoral process. The Nov. 5 election was "very calm, serene and organized," said Bishop Juan Mata Guevara of Esteli, general secretary of the Nicaraguan bishops' conference. The Diocese of Esteli sent 107 election observers to 26 municipalities in the northern part of the country. With the exception of the late opening and early closure of some voting stations, Bishop Mata said, the voting process was transparent and organized. Though the final tabulations were not expected until midweek, analysts predicted victory for Daniel Ortega, a former president and one-time Marxist rebel, who led the field of five candidates with more than 38 percent of the votes.

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