The Nicaraguan opposition is up in arms over the decision taken earlier this week by the country's Supreme Court to lift a 1995 constitutional clause which bans presidential candidates from running consecutively or serving more than two terms. The decision would allow the Sandinistan President Daniel Ortega, who was elected in 2007, to run for re-election in 2011. The ruling, which still has to be formally approved by 16 state judges, is expected to be ratified.

The right-wing opposition is threatening to boycott parliament, which would make the country nearly impossible to govern The various opposition parties have a majority in parliament. They say the decision by the court, which is controlled by Sandinistas, is unconstitutional. The Sandinistas counter that the international community did not object when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias modified their countries' constitution in a similar manner.

Mr Ortega joined the left-wing Sandinista National Liberation Front after being arrested for political activities at the age of 15. The Sandinistas fought the dictatorship of Anastasio Somosa. When the dictator was overthrown in a popular uprising in 1979, Mr Ortega represented the Sandinistas in a five-member Junta of National Reconciliation. The Sandinistas began to dominate the junta and after two of its members resigned Mr Ortega became the de facto ruler of Nicaragua.

Mr Ortega won the 1984 elections by a large majority and, after taking office in January 1985, served as president until 1990.

In the 1980s, United States President Ronald Reagan authorised Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North to divert funds from the illegal sale of weapons to Iran to the Contras, a right-wing guerrilla group which attempted to overthrow the government of President Ortega. The guerrilla warfare led to the death of 30,000 people. The Iran-Contra affair came to light in 1986 and became one of the greatest political scandals in US history.

Mr Ortega ran as a candidate for president and lost in 1990, 1996 and 2001. His politics have since become more moderate and, during the run up to the 2006 election, he converted to Catholicism. He is the seventh Latin American president who in recent years has taken measures to change the constitution in order to serve an additional term in office.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega
Photo by Wikimedia Commons