Why Is It A Big Deal That Daniel Ortega Is Winning The Election In Nicaragua?

Because he is a boogie-man for the American political right, and represents everything they hate when looking back to the wishy washy left wing 1970s (Jimmy Carter's term in power from 1977-1980, especially).

Ortega was/is the leader of a the Sandinista party, which overthrew the ruling Somoza family in Nicaragua in 1979. The Sandinistas were mainly socialist in their principles, and did things like abolish torture, impose price controls to keep basic staples (like food) at affordable prices, nationalise property belonging to Nicaragua's former political elite and increase the literacy rates from 49% to 87% over their 11 years in power. Not really Marxist in themselves, the Sandinistas did voice support for Marxist movements throughout Latin America, in a joint statement with Fidel Castro of Cuba.

Looking on in absolute horror the Americans covertly sold arms to Iran (for use in the Iran-Iraq war), using the proceeds to illegally fund the Contras, a mercenary army meant to undermine and destabilise the Sandinista regime. The Contra funding scheme also relied on money from drug-lords in Central America.

The Sandinistas were not entirely saints, though, Amnesty International has documented cases of their own human rights violations.

In 1990 the Sandinistas lost power against an alliance of 14 opposition parties (from communists to businessmen). Transfer of power was peaceful then, hopefully it will be again.

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