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Ortega and the Opposition Media
Recent headlines in Nicaragua suggest there are rising tensions between Daniel Ortega and the “opposition” media due to upcoming regional elections. It is interesting that the party that lost the last election in Nicaragua is called the opposition. If that term were to be used to describe the Democratic Party in the U.S. over the last 8 years, the label would be considered a pejorative because it suggests opposites, like good and evil. Opposition, implies that there is no possibility of reconciliation. Which leads to the question, what party would benefit the most by embracing an unyielding stance.
Nicaragua and Foreign Investment
The opposition media represents Nicaragua’s conservative contingency of well entrenched business and landowners to whom economic change means competition. It’s not surprising that the conservative aristocracy of Nicaragua are skeptical of Ortega’s moves to organize campesinos and his stated commitment to open the country to foreign investment. However, as reported in a recent blog, Nicaragua’s export sector grew 16.5 per cent to $1.26 billion over taking remittances and foreign aid as the country’s primary economic driver in 2007. In fact, CAFTA driven agricultural productivity is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2010. To foreign investors and the populace of Nicaragua these are encouraging statistics. For the opposition the stats may represent something different – a business model that is too inclusive. Incidentally, until 2007, remittance money from the U.S. was the largest source of income for many wealthy business owners in Nicaragua.
Tropical Breeze or Hot Air
As a foreign investor, one has to differentiate between the upcoming media battle between the current administration and the opposition, and something that may be more sinister. The opposition (read losing party) uses its media for one purpose. Their goal is to needle, antagonize, undermine, say anything, and do everything in its power to discredit the Ortega administration regardless how effective his policies are. And many times that kind of media works, remember the wacko swift boat tactics used against John Kerry in the 2004 U.S. elections.
The conservative opposition party lost in the last election and they represent the old guard of Nicaraguan power. It’s no wonder they’re butting heads with the current administration who have taken some controversial measures to stifle the opposition’s media hyperbole. So how serious is Ortega’s reported media interference to those who are or are thinking about, or are investing in Nicaragua real estate? Most sources say that the rising tensions between the current administration and the conservative party will have no long term consequences. Ortega is too smart to impose any kind of real censorship on the media. It’s too risky for his credibility with the foreign investors. And the “opposition” can’t cry wolf too loud, after all, the country’s in better shape than it’s been in years.
Take Home
To Daniel Ortega – It is important for the government of Nicaragua to realize that the mere suggestion of controlling the media makes foreign investors nervous, especially during elections.
To Nicaragua’s Conservative party and its Media – It is important to realize that foreign investors, indeed nobody takes a dog that barks at the breeze seriously.
To Nicaragua’s Investors – a) It is important to keep an eye on these municipal elections and the issue of free speech. b) Remember that Nicaragua is fundamentally moving forward and there are still plenty of investments to be made.
