If anyone has doubts about the direction Latin America is headed, then one needs to check out the latest elections results coming out of Nicaragua. 16 years ago, Sandinista Daniel Ortega was forced out of office thanks to the United States, as of this morning Ortega is ahead in early poll counts of the presidential elections held yesterday in the Central American nation.

With 15 percent of polling stations counted, Ortega had 40 percent of Sunday’s vote, compared with 33 percent for his closest challenger, the wealthy banker Eduardo Montealegre.
Three others rivals were well behind: Sandinista dissident Edmundo Jarquin, ruling-party candidate Jose Rizo and former Contra rebel Eden Pastora.
To win outright and avoid a runoff, the leftist Sandinista leader needs just 35 percent of the vote and a five-point advantage over his closest opponent.

Not surprisingly the United States leadership is less than thrilled with the prospect of Ortega returning to power, even if he has attempted to tone down his radical image. U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is quoted as saying that aid and trade will be endangered if anti-democratic forces prevail. What could be more democratic than an election though? Well according to reports coming out of the U.S. Embassy some poll stations opened late and closed early.

This is Ortega’s third try at regaining power.

Via / Yahoo! News and Metro
Image Via / BBC Mundo