Ortega Well Ahead In Nicaragua Vote: Partial Tally

MANAGUA, Nov 7 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) : Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega was on track to easily win a new term in elections Sunday, with his wife Rosario Murillo stepping up to become his vice president, according to partial official results.

But the opposition, sidelined by the leftist president, said it will not recognize the outcome and reiterated that it viewed the vote as a "farce." With 21 percent of ballots counted Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) had 71 percent of the vote, said Roberto Rivas, the head of the country's Supreme Electoral Council.

Turnout on that partial tally was 65 percent, Rivas told reporters at a news conference. The preliminary results matched pre-election surveys indicating a big win for Ortega and the FSLN. Sunday's vote was for the presidency and to choose legislators in the country's National Assembly. Full official results would be given at 11:00 am (1700 GMT) on Monday, Rivas said.