Sergio Ramírez
Encyclopedia
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. He graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua
of León
in 1964, where he obtained the Gold Medal for being the best student.
In 1977 Ramírez became head of the "Group of Twelve
", a group of prominent intellectuals, priests, businesspeople, and members of civil society who publicly stated their support for the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) in its struggle to topple the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza Debayle
. With the triumph of the Revolution in 1979, he became part of the Junta of the Government of National Reconstruction, where he presided over the National Council of Education. He was elected vice-president of Nicaragua in 1984 and was sworn in 1985.
Though the FSLN lost power to the UNO
coalition headed by Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in 1990, Ramírez continued to serve as the leader of the Sandinista block in the National Assembly
until 1995, when he founded the Movimiento de Renovación Sandinista (MRS) because of his differences with other leaders of the FSLN, such as former president Daniel Ortega, on issues of democratic reform. He has since become retrospectively critical of certain Sandinista policies that he views as having turned the country against the FSLN. He made an unsuccessful bid for president on the MRS ticket in 1996. Since then, Ramírez has retired definitively from politics. He currently lives in Managua
, Nicaragua.
He married his wife, Gertrudis "Tulita" Guerrero Mayorga, in 1964. He has three children: Sergio, Maria, and Dorel and 6 Grandchildren: Elianne, Carlos Fernando, Camila, Alejandro, Luciana and Andres.
Even during his years in politics, Ramírez continued to publish his work, for which he has won numerous awards and distinctions. His books include:
Ramírez participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions
project in 2007.
Nicaraguan
Nicaraguans are people inhabiting in, originating or having significant heritage from Nicaragua. Most Nicaraguans live in Nicaragua, although there is also a significant Nicaraguan diaspora, particularly in Costa Rica and the United States with smaller communities in other countries around the world...
writer and intellectual who served in the leftist Government Junta of National Reconstruction and as Vice President
Vice President of Nicaragua
Vice President of Nicaragua is the second highest political position in Nicaragua. According to the current constitution, vice president in elected in the same ticket as president.-Deputy Chief of State 1826-1838:...
of the country 1985-1990 under the presidency of 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...
.
Born in Masatepe
Masatepe
Masatepe is a municipality in the Masaya department of Nicaragua.-External links:* Official Web Site of Masatepe * In the internet since 2001...
in 1942, he published his first book, Cuentos, in 1963. He graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua
National Autonomous University of Nicaragua
The National Autonomous University of Nicaragua is the principal state-funded public university of Nicaragua.Its main campus is located in Managua...
of León
León, Nicaragua
León is a department in northwestern Nicaragua . It is also the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
in 1964, where he obtained the Gold Medal for being the best student.
In 1977 Ramírez became head of the "Group of Twelve
Los Doce
El Grupo de los Doce, or Group of Twelve, were a dozen members of the Nicaraguan establishment whose support for the Sandinista National Liberation Front struggle against dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle played a pivotal role in the acceptance of the Sandinistas by foreign and domestic...
", a group of prominent intellectuals, priests, businesspeople, and members of civil society who publicly stated their support for the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) in its struggle to topple the dictatorship of 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...
. With the triumph of the Revolution in 1979, he became part of the Junta of the Government of National Reconstruction, where he presided over the National Council of Education. He was elected vice-president of Nicaragua in 1984 and was sworn in 1985.
Though the FSLN lost power to the UNO
National Opposition Union
National Opposition Union was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. Its candidate Violeta Chamorro eventually won the race...
coalition headed by Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in 1990, Ramírez continued to serve as the leader of the Sandinista block in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Nicaragua
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua.-Composition:The Nicaraguan legislature is a unicameral body....
until 1995, when he founded the Movimiento de Renovación Sandinista (MRS) because of his differences with other leaders of the FSLN, such as former president Daniel Ortega, on issues of democratic reform. He has since become retrospectively critical of certain Sandinista policies that he views as having turned the country against the FSLN. He made an unsuccessful bid for president on the MRS ticket in 1996. Since then, Ramírez has retired definitively from politics. He currently lives in Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
, Nicaragua.
He married his wife, Gertrudis "Tulita" Guerrero Mayorga, in 1964. He has three children: Sergio, Maria, and Dorel and 6 Grandchildren: Elianne, Carlos Fernando, Camila, Alejandro, Luciana and Andres.
Even during his years in politics, Ramírez continued to publish his work, for which he has won numerous awards and distinctions. His books include:
- De Tropeles y Tropelías (1971)
- El Pensamiento vivo de Sandino (1975)
- Charles Atlas también muere (1976)
- ¿Te dio miedo la sangre? (1978)
- Castigo Divino (1988)
- Clave de Sol (1993)
- Un baile de máscaras (1995)
- Cuentos Completos (1998)
- Margarita, está linda la mar (1998; Premio Alfaguara de NovelaPremio Alfaguara de NovelaPremio Alfaguara de Novela is a Spanish-language literary award. The award is one of the most prestigious in the Spanish language. It includes a prize of $175,000 making it one of the richest literary prizes in the world. It is sponsored by Alfaguara, a publisher.The prize was created in 1965 by...
) - Adiós muchachos (1999)
- Mentiras Verdaderas (2001)
- Catalina y Catalina (2001)
- Sombras nada más (2002)
- Mil y una muertes (2004)
- El Reino Animal (2006)
Ramírez participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions
Stock Exchange of Visions
The Stock Exchange of Visions is a project initiated in 2006 by Fabrica, Benetton's research center. It gathers visionaries from diverse nationalities and cultures, who hail from a wide range of specialties, to provide insight into their vision for the future....
project in 2007.