Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
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Nicaragua
The NIMD programme in Nicaragua supports political parties and promotes awareness on policy issues.
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Overview
Programme information
In 2008, the NIMD programme in Nicaragua facilitated a self-assessment of the most important political parties, published a study of the country’s political history, and organized a series of radio debates on political issues, bringing together politicians, scholars, representatives of the private sector, civil society and the international community.
Political parties in parliament
• Alianza Liberal Nicaraguense (ALN)
• Camino Cristiano de Nicaragua (CCN)
• Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN)
• Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (MRS)
• Partido Conservador (PC)
• Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC)
• Partido Resistencia Nicaraguense (PRN)
• Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA)
Key political events
• National elections and the inauguration of the Sandinista government in January 2007.
• Presentation of government plans for Committees for Citizens Power (CPCs), officially as a tool to make democracy more participative. The opposition strongly opposed the plans from the very beginning.
• In Parliament cooperation between opposition parties increased in order to unite forces in a ‘safe’ democracy bloc (‘Block against Dictatorship’).
• Relations between the Executive and Legislative were increasingly antagonistic and polarized.
• Increasing centralization of power, particularly in the hands of President Daniel Ortega and his First Lady, which resulted in growing criticism from civil society organizations.
Key achievements in 2007
• By organizing public debates between political parties and civil society, the Programme gave an important stimulus towards social and political dialogue in the country. In 2007 almost no other relevant public debates took place to discuss issues of political and social importance.
• Progress was made in the interactive self-assessment of political parties. A publication is being prepared. It will serve as a training manual and contributes to a joint perception of a shared history on democracy and political parties in Nicaragua.
Lessons learned in 2007
• To bring politicians to the table in a sometimes volatile political arena, the Programme has focused on the organization of debates about social and political issues rather than on the institutionalization of a multiparty platform.
• To promote the anchoring of political parties in society, it is important to work not just on a national level but also on departmental and municipal levels.
Priorities for 2008
• Building local capacity: follow up of the interactive assessment and a political leadership curriculum.
• Holding debates on policy agendas, information through radio and television programs, universities, at a national and departmental level (including municipalities).
• Strengthening reflection and good practices of accountability, political dialogue and assessment by holding research and expert meetings on these issues at a national and departmental level (including municipalities).
• Conducting exchange meetings between women politicians from Nicaragua and Guatemala at a municipal level.
Key national partners
• The eight political parties
Key international partners
• Royal Netherlands Embassy
• Royal Swedish Embassy
• Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
• Royal Danish Embassy
• Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECI)
• Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom
• Embassy of the United States
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
