By Stephen Marks
MANAGUA — On October 16, the right-wing Liberal Alliance (AL) closed its Nicaraguan election campaign with a rally of 30,000 to 120,000 people (estimates varied). Later that day, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) rally of 200,000 to 350,000 people turned into an open air party.
While Arnoldo Alema'n, AL's presidential candidate, began his rally address on the theme of reconciliation, he soon reverted to attacking the FSLN and his supporters chanted "the FSLN will never return to power". Alema'n's allusions to those who are incapable of change and "wolves in sheep's clothing" continued his attempts to associate the FSLN with war, military conscription and conflict with the US. He even claimed that the pouring rain during the rally had be sent by God to symbolise the washing away of the sins of the Sandinistas.
In contrast, Daniel Ortega, the FSLN presidential candidate, reiterated his campaign themes of peace, cooperation and reconciliation. He declared, for example, that despite the big business association COSEP's endorsement of Alema'n, the FSLN would seek to work with COSEP and all other responsible social forces to "raise Nicaragua out its of misery". He stressed that the FSLN in power would not "repeat the mistakes of the past".
Ortega emphasised that the international situation has changed dramatically since the revolution of July 19, 1979, and an FSLN government of the 1990s would be different from that which had governed previously. Nevertheless, the FSLN candidate assured the crowd that health, education and national production would once again be priorities. He pledged that compulsory military service would never be reintroduced. Ortega welcomed the announcement by the United States that it will respect the outcome of the elections and stressed that relations with the US would be based on mutual respect.
Loud cheers greeted the announcement that former commanders of the Nicaraguan Resistance, and representatives of the producers such as vice-presidential candidate, Juan Manual Caldera, were at the rally. The "triple alliance", (FSLN-Resistance-producers) created great interest in the FSLN's slogan, "A government of all".
Dimensio'n Costeña, the popular reggae band from Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, had hundreds of thousands up dancing and waving their campaign flags. As Ortega commented, the atmosphere was more like a party celebrating peace and reconciliation than a rally.