Daniel Ortega : Ask Biography

Daniel Ortega in 2008

Personal data

Date of birth

11 November 1945(age 70)

Place of birth

La Libertad, Chontales, Nicaragua

Political party

FSLN

Spouse

Rosario Murillo

Religion

Roman Catholicism

President of Nicaragua

Assumed office

10 January 2007

President

Jaime Morales Carazo

Vice President

Jaime Morales Carazo

Preceded by

Enrique Bolaños

In office

10 January 1985 - 25 April 1990

President

Sergio Ramírez

Vice President

Sergio Ramírez

Succeeded by

Violeta Chamorro

Preceded by

Junta of National Reconstruction

In office

18 July 1979 - 10 January 1985
Alongside:
Sergio Ramírez
Violeta Chamorro
Alfonso Robelo
Arturo Cruz
Moisés Hassan
Rafael Rivas

Succeeded by

Office abolished

Preceded by

Francisco Urcuyo

Home | Office Holder | Daniel Ortega

José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (-esxoˈse ðaˈnjel orˈteɣa saˈβeðɾa; born 11 November 1945) is the current (83rd) President of Nicaragua, having served since 10 January 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 10 January 1985, and 25 April 1990. For much of his life, he has been a leader in the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional or FSLN).

After a popular rebellion resulted in the overthrow and exile of dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle in 1979, Ortega became a member of the ruling multipartisan Junta of National Reconstruction and was later elected president, serving from 1985 to 1990. His first period in office was characterized by a controversial program of land reform and wealth redistribution, literacy programs, hostility from the United States' Reagan administration, and armed attacks by US-backed Contras.

Ortega was defeated by Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in the 1990 presidential election, but he remained an important figure in Nicaraguan opposition politics. He was an unsuccessful candidate for president in 1996 and 2001 before winning the 2006 presidential election.