President Picks His Wife As Running Mate As He Seeks Third Term

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Tuesday picked his wife as his running mate ahead of November elections where he is seeking a third term.

The leftist politician is heavily favoured to be reelected and First Lady Rosario Murillo who
already has a prominent role as the chief government spokeswoman, is widely seen as sharing power with her husband.

Critics have accused the first couple of running Nicaragua like a personal fiefdom, although Ortega has described the “joint government” with his wife as a symbol of equality between the sexes, Reuters writes.

“We don’t doubt that (the vice presidential candidate) had to be a woman, and who better than the partner who has already been tested with work and proved to be very efficient and disciplined?” said Ortega, cheered by dozens of supporters as he registered his candidacy in the capital Managua.

While President Ortega, 70, rarely speaks to the media, his wife is regularly seen on TV discussing policy and many Nicaraguans see Ms Murillo as wielding the most power in her country because of her higher public profile.

Ms Murillo is not only the mother of the president’s seven children, she is a renowned poet and is fluent in both English and French.