Americas News
'No radical changes' to Nicaragua's economic policy: Ortega
By DPA
Nov 8, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Managua - Nicaraguan president-elect Daniel Ortega said Wednesday that his government would not make 'dramatic or radical changes' to economic policy and would work to eradicate poverty.

Leftist Sandinista leader Ortega, who won Sunday's presidential election in the Central American country without the need for a runoff, met with outgoing conservative President Enrique Bolanos on Wednesday.

'No dramatic changes, no radical changes are contemplated in the economic basis,' said Ortega, set to be inaugurated on January 10.

Ortega, who has been hailed as the latest socialist Latin American leader by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, had been voicing a more moderate stance in the run-up to Sunday's election.

Ortega also renewed his call on political and business organizations 'to keep attacking poverty and eradicate it' together. About 80 per cent of Nicaragua's population of 5.5 million people live in poverty.

'We have a very great debt with the people, and looking after macroeconomic elements (we can) increase efforts so that each Nicaraguan family can live in a dignified and honest way,' Ortega said.

Former revolutionary leader Ortega said his government would keep certain positive elements of the Bolanos administration, including an open attitude to trade, investment and exports.

Bolanos called on Ortega to support the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).