Daniel Ortega

Daniel Ortega - Nicaraguan Men, Career and Childhood

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Daniel Ortega Biography Stories 

Daniel Ortega's Personal Details

Daniel Ortega is the current President of Nicaragua and is known for his wide-range of social and economic reforms

InformationDetail
BirthdayNovember 11, 1945
NationalityNicaraguan
FamousLeaders, Presidents, Nicaraguan Men, President of Nicaragua
SpousesRosario Murillo
SiblingsHumberto Ortega
Known asJosé Daniel Ortega Saavedra
ChildrensCamila Antonia Ortega Murillo, Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo, Luciana Catalina Ortega Murillo, Maurice Facundo Ortega Murillo, Rafael Antonio Ortega Murillo, Zoilamérica Narváez
Universities
  • Central American University
Birth PlaceLa Libertad
ReligionCatholicism
GenderMale
FatherDaniel Ortega Cerda
MotherLidia Saavedra
Net Worth$50 Million as of Jan 3,2017
Sun SignScorpio
Born inLa Libertad
Famous asPresident of Nicaragua

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Daniel Ortega's photo

Who is Daniel Ortega?

Daniel Ortega is best known for being the long-time president of the Central American nation of Nicaragua. Born in a remote village, Ortega was raised by his activist parents. After his father saw action in a civil war, he and his wife became adamantly opposed to the ruling dictator. Although Daniel's mother was arrested on political charges, he joined the protest movement while in his young teens and was soon arrested himself. Daniel became radicalized while in prison and became persuaded to participate in a bank robbery, to finance the revolutionary guerillas. After a political deal secured his liberty, he immediately returned to his revolutionary group, and after a protracted struggle, managed to overthrow the government. Leading a ruling junta, Ortega soon consolidated his grip on the country, and quickly implemented diverse social reforms. As foreign powers tried to overthrow him by financing armed resistance groups in neighboring countries, Ortega maintained a steady hand on his country for one term in office but then subsequently faded to the background of Nicaraguan politics for the next decade. Returning from the ashes, his party swept to victory and Ortega now comfortably holds the reins of power in his country. Although the global political climate has changed since his first term in office, Ortega continues to stubbornly lead his country on an independent path, away from undue influence from neighboring superpowers

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Anastasio Somoza García

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Childhood & Early Life

José Daniel Ortega Saavedra was born on November 11, 1945 in La Libertad, Nicaragua. His father, Daniel Ortega Cerda, and his mother, Lidia Saavedra, were political activists who protested against the government.

Because of her political opposition to the ruling dictator,Anastasio Somoza, Daniel's mother was imprisoned. He has two brothers, Humberto and Camilo.

He was arrested at the age of 15 for joining a political protest organization. While in prison, he joined the ‘Sandinista National Liberation Front’ (FSLN).

Career

In 1967, Ortega was arrested and convicted of armed robbery after he participated in a heist at a branch of ‘Bank of America’. He was badly tortured by correctional officers while in prison.

In 1974, Ortega and other FSLN members were released from incarceration in a swap for hostages that his group held.

He was ordered to leave Nicaragua, however he secretly re-infiltrated the country shortly after being released from prison. In 1979, he married Rosario Murillo and moved to Costa Rica.

When the FSLN overthrew the government in July 1979, he became one member of a five-person junta.

In 1981,he assumed the leadership of the group, after several members resigned in protest of the FSLN’s dominance of the junta, becoming de-facto leader of the country. He began rapidly implementing government programs to combat illiteracy, poverty, sexism and racism.

American President Ronald Reagan accused the FSLN of fomenting Marxist revolutions in various countries in Latin America, including El Salvador,in 1981. The CIA soon began training an army of guerillas to overthrow Ortega's government. When the American public learned of the CIA's involvement, the scandal known as 'The Iran-Contra Affair' nearly toppled the Reagan administration.

In late 1984, presidential elections were held and he was swept to victory, garnering 67% of the popular vote.

In 1990, Ortega competed for re-election against Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, his former colleague from the ruling five-person junta. Surprising most observers, Chamorro soundly defeated him in the first round.

In 1996, he ran for president and was defeated by Arnoldo Aleman. He was met with the same fate, when he ran for president and was defeated by Enrique Bolanos, five years later. His defeat in both the terms is attributed to the corruption charges which surfaced in the later part of his presidential term.

In 2006, he began maneuvering the FSLN to a hardline pro-Catholic ideology, supporting legislation to ban all abortions in the country. During the presidential elections, the same year, he was elected with just 38% of the popular vote.

In 2008, under Ortega's guidance, the FSLN pressured the national electoral council to disqualify several of their political rivals. Governments worldwide condemned these actions.

In 2011, he was re-elected as president, winning a landslide victory after garnering 62% of the popular vote.

In 2014, Ortega's government unveiled an ambitious plan to build an inter-ocean canal across the country.

Awards & Achievements

Daniel Ortega was the coordinator of the ruling junta of Nicaragua from July 18, 1979 to January 10, 1985.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1998, Ortega's adopted stepdaughter ZoilaméricaNarváez made public a lengthy report,which detailed systematic sexual abuse accusations against Ortega that allegedly continued for over a decade. For technical reasons, Ortega could not be prosecuted in the case but Narváez continues to stand by her accusations.

He has been married to Rosario Murillo since 1979. His wife is recognized internationally for her evocative poems.

In 2005, he had to re-marry his wife in order for his marriage to be recognized by the Catholic Church. Together, the couple has eight children, although three are from his wife's earlier marriage.

Trivia

Daniel Ortega's official title is 'SeñorPresidente'.

This famous politician famously blamed the 2008 economic recession in America as God's punishment to the country, for a long history of interference in the affairs of Latin American countries

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Daniel Ortega biography timelines

  • // 11th Nov 1945
    José Daniel Ortega Saavedra was born on November 11, 1945 in La Libertad, Nicaragua. His father, Daniel Ortega Cerda, and his mother, Lidia Saavedra, were political activists who protested against the government.
  • // 1967
    In 1967, Ortega was arrested and convicted of armed robbery after he participated in a heist at a branch of ‘Bank of America’. He was badly tortured by correctional officers while in prison.
  • // 1974
    In 1974, Ortega and other FSLN members were released from incarceration in a swap for hostages that his group held.
  • // 1979
    He was ordered to leave Nicaragua, however he secretly re-infiltrated the country shortly after being released from prison. In 1979, he married Rosario Murillo and moved to Costa Rica.
  • // 1979
    He has been married to Rosario Murillo since 1979. His wife is recognized internationally for her evocative poems.
  • // Jul 1979
    When the FSLN overthrew the government in July 1979, he became one member of a five-person junta.
  • // 18th Jul 1979 To 10th Jan 1985
    Daniel Ortega was the coordinator of the ruling junta of Nicaragua from July 18, 1979 to January 10, 1985.
  • // 1981
    In 1981,he assumed the leadership of the group, after several members resigned in protest of the FSLN’s dominance of the junta, becoming de-facto leader of the country. He began rapidly implementing government programs to combat illiteracy, poverty, sexism and racism.
  • // 1981
    American President Ronald Reagan accused the FSLN of fomenting Marxist revolutions in various countries in Latin America, including El Salvador,in 1981. The CIA soon began training an army of guerillas to overthrow Ortega's government. When the American public learned of the CIA's involvement, the scandal known as 'The Iran-Contra Affair' nearly toppled the Reagan administration.
  • // 1984
    In late 1984, presidential elections were held and he was swept to victory, garnering 67% of the popular vote.
  • // 1990
    In 1990, Ortega competed for re-election against Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, his former colleague from the ruling five-person junta. Surprising most observers, Chamorro soundly defeated him in the first round.
  • // 1996
    In 1996, he ran for president and was defeated by Arnoldo Aleman. He was met with the same fate, when he ran for president and was defeated by Enrique Bolanos, five years later. His defeat in both the terms is attributed to the corruption charges which surfaced in the later part of his presidential term.
  • // 1998
    In 1998, Ortega's adopted stepdaughter ZoilaméricaNarváez made public a lengthy report,which detailed systematic sexual abuse accusations against Ortega that allegedly continued for over a decade. For technical reasons, Ortega could not be prosecuted in the case but Narváez continues to stand by her accusations.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, he had to re-marry his wife in order for his marriage to be recognized by the Catholic Church. Together, the couple has eight children, although three are from his wife's earlier marriage.
  • // 2006
    In 2006, he began maneuvering the FSLN to a hardline pro-Catholic ideology, supporting legislation to ban all abortions in the country. During the presidential elections, the same year, he was elected with just 38% of the popular vote.
  • // 2008
    In 2008, under Ortega's guidance, the FSLN pressured the national electoral council to disqualify several of their political rivals. Governments worldwide condemned these actions.
  • // 2008
    This famous politician famously blamed the 2008 economic recession in America as God's punishment to the country, for a long history of interference in the affairs of Latin American countries
  • // 2011
    In 2011, he was re-elected as president, winning a landslide victory after garnering 62% of the popular vote.
  • // 2014
    In 2014, Ortega's government unveiled an ambitious plan to build an inter-ocean canal across the country.

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Daniel Ortega's FAQ

  • What is Daniel Ortega birthday?

    Daniel Ortega was born at 1945-11-11

  • Where is Daniel Ortega's birth place?

    Daniel Ortega was born in La Libertad

  • What is Daniel Ortega nationalities?

    Daniel Ortega's nationalities is Nicaraguan

  • Who is Daniel Ortega spouses?

    Daniel Ortega's spouses is Rosario Murillo

  • Who is Daniel Ortega siblings?

    Daniel Ortega's siblings is Humberto Ortega

  • Who is Daniel Ortega childrens?

    Daniel Ortega's childrens is Camila Antonia Ortega Murillo, Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo, Luciana Catalina Ortega Murillo, Maurice Facundo Ortega Murillo, Rafael Antonio Ortega Murillo, Zoilamérica Narváez

  • What was Daniel Ortega universities?

    Daniel Ortega studied at Central American University

  • What is Daniel Ortega's religion?

    Daniel Ortega's religion is Catholicism

  • Who is Daniel Ortega's father?

    Daniel Ortega's father is Daniel Ortega Cerda

  • Who is Daniel Ortega's mother?

    Daniel Ortega's mother is Lidia Saavedra

  • What is Daniel Ortega's sun sign?

    Daniel Ortega is Scorpio

  • How famous is Daniel Ortega?

    Daniel Ortega is famouse as President of Nicaragua