How did Daniel Ortega return to Nicaragua’s presidency in 2007?

Daniel Ortega returned to the presidency in 2007 after winning the 2006 presidential election as the candidate for the FSLN. During his campaign, Ortega appeared to shift away from the uncompromising Marxism of his past, adopting more pragmatic politics and promising to uphold existing free-market economic reforms.12

He secured a large enough plurality to defeat the conservative candidate, Eduardo Montealegre, by garnering strong support among Nicaragua’s impoverished population. Upon taking office in January 2007, his administration focused on implementing social programs aimed at eliminating hunger and illiteracy, while also maintaining the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) with the United States to encourage investment and job creation.12