Yes, it’s true. There is another election happening in the Americas besides the U.S. election: Nicaragua’s presidential elections, where President Daniel Ortega is running for his third consecutive term (not counting his previous time in power from 1979-1990). While the threats to democracy here in the U.S. are consuming the media, in Nicaragua, Ortega has already hollowed out the fledgling democratic institutions to keep himself in power and to create his own dynasty, like the Somozas’ he helped overthrow in 1979. The one difference? While Trump doesn’t see a need to have the election at all (based on the “yuge” crowds he’s drawing, just give him the presidency already!), President Ortega still feels the need to hold an election, even if it will not be particularly democratic and there is no question that he will win.
Cartoon credit: Arcadio Esquivel, Costa Rica, Caglecartoons.com
