CONSERVATIVE
National Conservative Party (PNC)
Formed in 1984, this influential oligarchic party allied
with COSEP is perhaps the most anticommunist in UNO. It
has official ties to the Conservative International and runs
one of Nicaragua’s most vociferous opposition radio sta-
tions, Radio Corporaci6n. Led by Silviano Matamoros La-
cayo.
Popular Conservative Alliance (APC)
Formed in 1984, it accused the FSLN of being totalitarian
and an “enemy” of the Catholic faith. Its most important
leader is Miriam Argiiello Morales, a long-time Conserva-
tive militant and one of UNO’s best public speakers, who was
elected president of the National Assembly.
Conservative National Action Party (ANC)
The youngest party in UNO broke away from the Demo-
cratic Conservative Party (PCD, not an UNO member) in
August 1989, just seven months before the election. Led by
Hernaldo Ziiiiga Montenegro, it has no legal status and its
membership is tiny.
LIBERAL
Independent Liberal Party (PLI)
The PLI was formed in 1944, in opposition to Somoza’s
Liberal Party. It participated in the Council of State and Na-
tional Assembly from 1979 to 1984 as an ally of the FSLN.
It won nine seats in the 1984 election, ranking as the third
political force in the country. The party has been racked by
divisions since then, and half of its members now belong to
another Liberal party outside UNO. Just before the 1990
election, important party members accused the PLI’s leader
and Nicaragua’s new vice president, Virgilio Godoy Reyes,
of embezzling funds donated by a West German foundation.
Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC)
The PLC split off from Somoza’s Liberal Party in 1968.
PLC leader Arnoldo Alemdn Lacayo is Managua’s new
mayor.
Neo-Liberal Party (PALI)
Formed in 1986, PALI is one of the newest and smallest
parties and has the ignominious distinction of being the heir
to Somoza’s Liberal Party. It played a key role in promoting
Virgilio Godoy’s candidacy by casting a last-minute vote for
the Violeta/Virgilio ticket to defeat COSEP’s candidate,
Enrique Bolafios. Led by Andr6s Zdfiiga Mercado.
SOCIAL CHRISTIAN
Democratic Party of National Confidence (PDCN)
The PDCN split off from the Social Christian Party (not
an UNO member) in 1988. It supported Bolafios’ candidacy.
Party leader Adin Fletes ran for president of the National
Assembly. Its president is Augustin Jarquin Anaya.
Popular Social Cristian Party (PPSC)
The PPSC split from the Social Cristian Party in 1976. It
participated in the 1984 elections, winning six seats in the
National Assembly. Since 1985, the party has become in-
creasingly critical of the Sandinista government. It is one of
the best organized parties in Nicaragua, with its own founda-
tion and newspaper, La Cr6nica. The majority of the PPSC
32 NACLA REPORT ON THE AMERICAS NACLA REPORT ON THE AMERICAS 32
decided to leave the UNO coalition due to disagreements
over the choice of candidates to the National Assembly.
Some party leaders, however, such as Luis Humberto Guzmdn,
stayed within UNO and won seats in the Assembly.
National Action Party (PAN)
The smallest of the Social Christian parties, PAN was
formed in 1988. The party supported Enrique Bolafios’
candidacy. Its most important leaders are Dulio Baltodano
and Eduardo Rivas Gasteazoro.
MARXIST
Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN)
The PSN, created in 1944, was Nicaragua’s first Marxist-
Leninist party, and is known as the “grandfather” of the
Nicaraguan Left. Prominent leaders of the FSLN came from
its ranks. It now claims to have abandoned Marxist ortho-
doxy and to have embraced social democracy. It runs one of
Nicaragua’s most important unions, the General Confedera-
tion of Workers-independent (CGTi), and has influence
within the working class. Party leader Luis Sdnchez was
UNO’s press officer during the campaign and won a seat in
the National Assembly.
Nicaraguan Communist Party (PCdeN)
The PCdeN was formed in 1967 following an internal
conflict in the PSN. It has had spectacular variations in
political discourse. Immediately following the revolution the
party called for massive strikes, trying to force the process
toward a socialist revolution. The party formally condemns
private property and claims to have joined the UNO coalition
because it believed only a unified bloc could defeat the FSLN
government. It runs one of Nicaragua’s most important
unions, the Confederation for Action and Labor Union Uni-
fication (CAUS). Party leader Eli Altamirano Pdrez is one of
Virgilio Godoy’s most loyal allies within the UNO Political
Council and has been accused by party members of promot-
ing a “personality cult.”
OTHERS
Social Democratic Party (PSD)
The PSD split from the Conservative Democratic Party
(PCD, not an UNO member) in 1979. As its relations with the
revolutionary government worsened, some of its leaders,
among them Alfredo Cdsar, left the country to join the
Contras. Social democracy has had little influence or follow-
ing in Nicaragua historically, and the party only began to play
a role in Nicaraguan politics when Cdsar returned in 1987. Its
leader is Guillermo Potoy Angulo.
Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC)
This party never attained legal status and was formed in
1989 during the electoral campaign. It is a split-off from the
Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), a party outside
the UNO alliance. Like PUCA, PIAC promotes the reunifi-
cation of Central America as a solution to the region’s
problems. The party has no real apparatus or following. Its
leader is Alejandro P6rez Ar6valo.
Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN)
Formed in 1978 by a group of anti-Somoza businessmen,
its leadership left the country soon after the revolution and
joined the Contras. When the leadership left, the party
became dormant. Its top leaders are Roberto Urroz Castillo
and COSEP member and former Contra leader Alfonso
Robelo.
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