The scheduled beginning of the school year in Nicaragua came and went without schools opening. The strike begun on February 2 by 80% of Nicaragua’s 35,000 teachers is just one example of a growing political crisis. The teachers were demanding the implementation of a pay rise granted in the budget by Nicaragua’s National Assembly, where the party of right-wing President Enrique Bolanos is outnumbered by delegates from the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and Constitutionalist Liberal Party (CLP). The conflict between the president and assembly threatens to derail the budget, despite a recent mediation process. Bolanos claims that if the 2005 budget as it is now, with an increase in social spending, is approved then the International Monetary Fund will exclude Nicaragua from its aid program. FSLN deputies however claim that its proposed reforms will bring enough revenue to prevent this.

From Green Left Weekly, February 9, 2005.
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