HERTY: I STAND BETWEEN ORTEGA AND THE PRESIDENCY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001210 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN TPIERCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2026 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM NU SUBJECT: HERTY: I STAND BETWEEN ORTEGA AND THE PRESIDENCY REF: A. MANAGUA 0251 ¶B. MANAGUA 0969 Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Sandinista dissident (FSLN) Herty Lewites recently asserted to Ambassador that he stands between Daniel Ortega and the presidency. He believes he can whittle down support for Ortega to 25% of the vote in November -- thereby ensuring a runoff, which Ortega would lose. Lewites warns, however, that inadequate financial backing could force him to resign his candidacy. George Soros has offered Lewites his support, and Lewites will also seek support from the Jewish private sector in New York City. Lewites alleges that Ortega prevented the reunification of Nicaragua's Liberal forces by insisting that Aleman not cede the PLC's leadership to Rizo and claims that Ortega could "allow" Aleman to walk free by June or July. He believes that the legal proceedings against Aleman and his family in Panama and the United States are helpful, as is the Schengen nations' recent decision to forbid Aleman's admission into their countries. Lewites' presence in the presidential race is crucial to reducing Ortega's chances to win, and our engagement with him deflects PLC and FSLN accusations that the USG has somehow endorsed Eduardo Montealegre as its candidate. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Over coffee at the Ambassador's residence on June 3, Sandinista dissident (FSLN) Herty Lewites asserted to the Ambassador that he is the one person who stands between Daniel Ortega and the presidency and that he believes he can whittle down support for Ortega to 25% of voters -- thereby ensuring a runoff, which Ortega would lose. Lewites ventured that he can draw at least 5% of the total vote from citizens traditionally supportive of the FSLN to his side. Ortega rival Alejandro Martinez Cuenca would add an additional 2% to 3% of FSLN militants if he were to join Herty's campaign, suggested Lewites. ¶3. (C) Lewites related how he had attempted to convince Martinez Cuenca to run as his vice presidential candidate -- instead of Edmundo Jarquin --- quickly noting that Jarquin had supported the idea. Instead, a stubborn Martinez Cuenca had insisted on challenging Ortega's right to run as the FSLN's candidate to the very day of its May 28 convention, when Martinez Cuenca was bounced at the door. Lewites explained that he will continue his efforts to recruit Martinez. As for his challenging Ortega, Lewites remarked that he will take advantage of the FSLN's "millionaire ticket" (Ortega and Morales are millionaires) to discredit their claims that they are the best option to help Nicaragua's poor masses. FINANCIAL WOES COULD CAUSE LEWITES TO WITHDRAW FROM RACE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (C) Lewites reiterated his commitment to remaining in the race, but warned that lack of financial backing could force him to withdraw. He confided his plans to travel to New York City on June 6 to meet with a few Jewish businessmen and then travel to Miami for the meeting of Nicaraguan expats with Nicaraguan presidential candidates (Eduardo Montealegre and Jose Rizo are also expected to attend.) Lewites also shared that George Soros will support him, primarily through get out the vote support. However, Lewites was less optimistic about backing from Nicaragua's private sector, hinting that U.S. influence could encourage local financiers to lend some support to his campaign. Responding to Ambassador's query regarding Lewites' plans to travel to Washington, Lewites noted he will leave Washington for later, preferring to downplay any association with the U.S. government for now. ¶5. (C) Lewites voiced particular concern over the large number of youth who do not possess national ID cards (cedulas) required to vote. According to Lewites, who estimated that some 300,000 youth do not have cedulas, he has made the cedula issuance one of his prime objectives. (NOTE: Lewites polls very well among university students; in a recent poll of Managua universities, he was the most popular presidential candidate. END NOTE.) Regarding the weeks of FSLN-masterminded student demonstrations, Lewites asserted that the violence will continue until/unless President Bolanos agrees to pressure Nicaraguan oil company Petronic to provide the infrastructure required to receive, store, and distribute Venezuelan oil to advance Ortega's campaign. HERTY'S VIEWS ON THE LATEST ROUND OF THE ORTEGA-ALEMAN PACT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (C) Touching on the latest round in the Ortega-Aleman pact, Lewites alleged that Ortega had ordered Aleman "to stand firm" and to prevent Rizo from assuming the leadership of the PLC. In exchange, claimed Lewites, Ortega would arrange for the FSLN-controlled Appeals Court to rule against Aleman's appeal regarding his 20-year sentence for money laundering and embezzlement of Nicaraguan government funds. Then the Supreme Court's PLC-dominated constitutional chamber would hear the case and absolve Aleman of all charges and order his release, explained Lewites. (COMMENT: In this scenario, the FSLN would be able to uphold its position of condemning Aleman's corruption, while PLC magistrates and the party would take the fall for releasing him - actions that would favor Ortega's campaign. END COMMENT.) KEEP THE PRESSURE ON ALEMAN, ENCOURAGE RIZO TO ASSERT SELF - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶7. (C) According to Lewites, the legal proceedings against Aleman and his family in Panama and the United States are helpful, as is the Schengen nations' recent decision to forbid Aleman's admission into their countries. However, he voiced concern that the Aleman family could win the civil case in Miami, noting that the PLC has already declared victory. Ambassador clarified that the Miami case is still proceeding and that the judge will rule o/a June 21 after both parties in question present final statements on June 15. The Ambassador added that another case against Aleman could be built in the Dominican Republic. ¶8. (C) Finally, Lewites added that he would meet with Rizo the following day and encourage him to continue his efforts to reform the PLC. (NOTE: A split Liberal vote also favors Lewites. If Rizo asserts his leadership over Aleman, even half-heartedly, he could draw some Montealegre supporters to the PLC. END NOTE.) COMMENT - - - - ¶9. (C) Several Embassy contacts have told us that Ortega may soon "allow" Aleman to walk free to enable Aleman can campaign against Montealegre, especially in the rural areas where Aleman still enjoys support and Montealegre is weakest. Lewites' presence in the presidential race is indeed crucial to reducing Ortega's chances to win. Further, our engagement with him deflects PLC and FSLN accusations that the USG has somehow endorsed Eduardo Montealegre as its candidate. TRIVELLI