Junta of National Reconstruction
Encyclopedia
The Junta of National Reconstruction (Junta de Gobierno de Reconstrucción Nacional) officially ruled Nicaragua
from July 1979 to January 1985, though effective power was in the hands of the Sandinista National Liberation Front
's National Directorate.
The Sandinista rebels announced the Junta as its provisional government on June 16, 1979, as the civil war against the Anastasio Somoza Debayle
regime entered its final phase. It was composed of five members: a member of the FSLN directorate, Daniel Ortega
; two left-wing activists, Sergio Ramírez
and Moisés Hassan Morales; and two right-wing representatives, Alfonso Robelo
and Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.
In the first half of July, United States government envoy William Bowdler
pressured the Sandinistas to broaden the junta by adding more members, such as Adolfo Calero
, Ismael Reyes, and Mariano Fiallos. The Sandinistas, not wishing to alienate the US, were willing to acquiesce. However, Chamorro and Robelo, representing business and corporate interests, objected to the plan, and it was rejected.
After the fall of Somoza, it quickly became apparent to Robelo and Chamorro that they did not have any real power and Chamorro resigned on April 19, 1980, followed by Robelo three days later. On May 18, they were replaced by Arturo Cruz
and Rafael Córdova Rivas. Cruz would resign in March 1981, though he agreed for a time to be ambassador to the United States
. On March 4, Cruz's appointment to Washington was announced, together with Hassan's departure for the Council of State
and Ortega's promotion to Coordinator of the now three-member junta. While the junta may have offered little authority to its non-Sandinista members, the public role did help to solidify Ortega's primacy within the FSLN directorate and enhance Ramírez's prominence.
On November 4, 1984, a presidential election
was held, which was won by leading junta member and revolutionary Daniel Ortega and his running mate, Sergio Ramírez as vice president. However, some opposition parties boycotted it, claiming unfair conditions. While the Reagan administration
and many mainstream United States media outlets alleged the election would be neither free nor fair, numerous electoral watchers affiliated with Western Europe
an governments, as well as United States non-governmental organization
s, declared the results legitimate. Ortega took office on January 10, and the junta was dissolved.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
from July 1979 to January 1985, though effective power was in the hands of the Sandinista National Liberation Front
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
's National Directorate.
The Sandinista rebels announced the Junta as its provisional government on June 16, 1979, as the civil war against the Anastasio Somoza Debayle
Anastasio Somoza Debayle
Anastasio Somoza Debayle was a Nicaraguan leader and officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was de facto ruler of the country from 1967 to 1979...
regime entered its final phase. It was composed of five members: a member of the FSLN directorate, Daniel Ortega
Daniel Ortega
José Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and revolutionary, currently serving as the 83rd President of Nicaragua, a position that he has held since 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 1985 and 1990, and for much of his life, has been a leader in the Sandinista...
; two left-wing activists, Sergio Ramírez
Sergio Ramírez
Sergio Ramírez Mercado is a Nicaraguan writer and intellectual who served in the leftist Government Junta of National Reconstruction and as Vice President of the country 1985-1990 under the presidency of Daniel Ortega.Born in Masatepe in 1942, he published his first book, Cuentos, in 1963...
and Moisés Hassan Morales; and two right-wing representatives, Alfonso Robelo
Alfonso Robelo
Luis Alfonso Robelo Callejas , a Nicaraguan businessman, was the founder of the Nicaraguan Democratic Movement . He was one of the "moderates" on the five-members Junta of National Reconstruction that the Sandinistas claimed would rule Nicaragua following the overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle...
and Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.
In the first half of July, United States government envoy William Bowdler
William Bowdler
See also William G. BowdlerWilliam Audley Bowdler was a Liberal Party politician in England who served briefly as a Member of Parliament in the early 1920s....
pressured the Sandinistas to broaden the junta by adding more members, such as Adolfo Calero
Adolfo Calero
Adolfo Calero Portocarrero was a Nicaraguan businessman, and leader of the Nicaraguan Democratic Force, which was the largest contra rebel group opposing the Sandinista government. In the contra leadership, Calero was responsible for managing the bank accounts into which money was deposited and...
, Ismael Reyes, and Mariano Fiallos. The Sandinistas, not wishing to alienate the US, were willing to acquiesce. However, Chamorro and Robelo, representing business and corporate interests, objected to the plan, and it was rejected.
After the fall of Somoza, it quickly became apparent to Robelo and Chamorro that they did not have any real power and Chamorro resigned on April 19, 1980, followed by Robelo three days later. On May 18, they were replaced by Arturo Cruz
Arturo Cruz
Arturo José Cruz Porras , sometimes called Arturo Cruz, Sr. to distinguish him from his son, is a Nicaraguan banker and technocrat. He became prominent in politics during the Sandinista era...
and Rafael Córdova Rivas. Cruz would resign in March 1981, though he agreed for a time to be ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On March 4, Cruz's appointment to Washington was announced, together with Hassan's departure for the Council of State
Council of State
The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...
and Ortega's promotion to Coordinator of the now three-member junta. While the junta may have offered little authority to its non-Sandinista members, the public role did help to solidify Ortega's primacy within the FSLN directorate and enhance Ramírez's prominence.
On November 4, 1984, a presidential election
Nicaraguan general election, 1984
A general election was held in Nicaragua on 4 November 1984, to elect a president and parliament. Approximately 1.2 million Nicaraguans voted, representing a 75% turnout, with 94% of eligible voters registered. The elections were generally held to be free and fair...
was held, which was won by leading junta member and revolutionary Daniel Ortega and his running mate, Sergio Ramírez as vice president. However, some opposition parties boycotted it, claiming unfair conditions. While the Reagan administration
Reagan Administration
The United States presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 1989....
and many mainstream United States media outlets alleged the election would be neither free nor fair, numerous electoral watchers affiliated with Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
an governments, as well as United States non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s, declared the results legitimate. Ortega took office on January 10, and the junta was dissolved.