Weekly Report - 21 July 2011 (WR-11-29)

President Daniel Ortega is “a national filibuster”. In Nicaragua this is the ultimate insult that can be flung at any politician, as it refers to William Walker, the US “filibuster”, who set himself up as president in Nicaragua after fraudulent elections in the nineteenth century, and has become synonymous with imperialist exploitation. Former president Arnoldo Alemán (1997-2002) officially launched his candidacy for November’s elections with this battle cry to stir up historical nationalism.