Sandinista

Supporter of the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN, Sandinista National Liberation Front), armed revolutionary movement founded in Nicaragua on July 23, 1961 to oppose the dictatorship (1936-1979) of the Somoza family, and in power under Daniel Ortega from 19 July 1979 until its defeat in the elections of 25 February 1990. The FSLN's founders chose as their inspiration Augusto C. Sandino (1895-1934), leader of the 1927-1933 resistance to local conservative forces and their U.S. allies.

Combining a broad spectrum of ideological opinion from revolutionary Marxism to Liberation theology and reformist agendas of broadened peasant proprietorship, Sandinismo commanded widespread support within Nicaragua and overseas. The Sandinistas replaced the Somoza dictatorship with a broad-baced coalition government that was expected to be an interim replacement until elections could be held.

Rival conflicts quickly dogged the group, however and the coalition split up. Daniel Ortega and his more radical socialist supporters soon gained complete control of Nicaragua's government, while other more conservative members, such as Violeta Barrios de Chamorro were either expelled or resigned from the council and formed their own political groups. Allegations spread among critics that the Ortega clique were planning to turn Nicaragua into a Communist state like neighbouring Cuba, a country which many of Ortega's supporters admired. Such fears were accentuated by the Sandistina Government's attempts to crack down on political dissent, especially within Nicaraguan media outlets.

The Sandinista government began to openly challenge economic interests of the United States in the region. Ortega also began to appeal for economic and military aid from the Soviet Union and Cuba, and began supporting leftist revolutionaries in war-torn El Salvador, prompting much fear in Washington.

The US government soon began to sponsor anti-Sandinista "Contra" (counter-revolutionary) terrorist groups supported from bases in neighbouring Honduras. This caused a great deal of controversy both within the United States and the rest of the world, and prompted much debate on the extent to which the US should interfere in foreign nations' governments. (See also Iran-Contra Affair.)

Edén Pastora (Comandante cero), a former Sandinista leader, formed a Contra group of his own. There were many violent conflicts between the rival guerrilla groups, leading to a civil war.

As part of a peace settlement, Ortega agreed to hold elections. The Sandinistas were voted out on 26 February, 1990 in favor of a 14-party alliance led by Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, who had become one of the leading anti-Sandinista advocates.

After their loss, some of the Sandinista leaders held part of the property that had been nationalized by the FSLN government. This process has been named piñata and was tolerated by the new government.