This is a reminder that power corrupts. 🤨

The Frente Sandinista achieved to free Nicaragua from the bloody grip of dictator Somoza in 1978 and built up a real progressive alternative, politically, culturally, socially and economically.
Alfabetization campaigns, peasant poetry, women's rights, cooperatives of coffee growers. Ortega was the leader of a movement seen as a beacon of hope and a new way of socialism with freedom. Thousands of international volunteers went there to help.
Of course, the US bears part of the responsibility (with infamous Henry Kissinger) with their mercenaries sewing terror during a 10-year war.
Then, the Sandinistas hold free elections and the people voted for the US-backed candidate as they knew that the terror would end.

Ortega remained in the oppositon for over 15 years. Most of his comrades, especially the more progressive ones, left the party, but Ortega became remarkably creative in forging alliances to regain power. He allied with the catholic church (then the evangelicals weren't as important yet) to speak out against abortion in order to gain their support. He used his influence at the suopreme court to help a conservative president guilty of corruption.
It is important to remark that liberal capitalist democracies don't have so much to offer for a population in poverty. So, at some point, also with the help of Venezuela's petrodollars, Ortega achieved to become president again.
This time, little remained of the humanistic visions of the former revolutionary...
And here we are, crackdown after crackdown.
#Nicaragua #Ortega #FSLN #FrenteSandinista #CentralAmerica #Tankies #Communism #Socialism
@ScienceMagazine