Supporting Nicaraguan Democracy
Kucinich gave the following speech in Congress on December 14, 2005:
Speaking during debate on H. Con. Res. 252, Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding Nicaragua, Congressman Kucinich said (as revised by the Congressman):
"H. Con. Res. 252, expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of the United States should actively support the aspirations of the democratic political and social forces in the Republic of Nicaragua may have already achieved its aims and may not be necessary.
"This bill was crafted to address a pact formed by Arnoldo Aleman, former President of Nicaragua of the Liberal Constitutional Party, who had been sentenced to 20 years of house arrest for looting state coffers of $100 million, with Daniel Ortega, former President of the Sandanista Party.
"The Aleman-Ortega pact passed constitutional reforms that weakened the power of the Bolanos Presidency. It was in this context that H. Con. Res. 252 was introduced.
"However, the context has since changed.
"In October, days after Nicaragua received a threat from U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick that Nicaragua risked losing $175 million in U.S. aid if President Bolanos were toppled. Consequently, the members of the pact agreed to postpone the constitutional reforms until the next president's term begins in 2007.
"I commend the sponsors of the legislation but would suggest that since the resolution has achieved its ends, it should be withdrawn."
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