Combating Corruption In Nicaragua:

The Problem Of Corrupt Democrats

By ENRIQUE BOLAÑOS GEYER
President of Nicaragua

This article is a transcript of a speech delivered by President Bolanos at the U.S. Department of State on February 25, 2003, where he was awarded the Democracy Service Medal by the National Endowment for Democracy. Prior to serving as Vice-President and President of Nicaragua, Enrique Bolanos headed the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), an umbrella organization of Nicaragua’s private sector and a CIPE partner. COSEP worked courageously to promote the ideals of liberty, democracy, free enterprise, protection of private property, human rights, and political and economic pluralism, challenging both authoritarian and Marxist regimes.

“Democracy has few more formidable enemies than corrupt democrats. Since the end of the Cold war, and the first free elections in Nicaragua beginning a democratic process 13 years ago today, democracy as a form of government has spread to more places on earth then ever before.

However, in many of these new or restored democracies, the promise of prosperity associated with a democratic form of Government has not been fulfilled. And, in these shortcomings, few bear more responsibility that corrupt democrats!”

“Corrupt democrats are politicians affiliated to democratic parties who have been duly elected or appointed to a position in a democratic administration, who then turn around and rob the poor, stealing the people’s money. Nothing discredits democracy as a form of government faster in the eyes of the governed than to witness government officials
stealing from the poor with impunity. So, in new democracy or restored democracy after another, free elections after free elections have been held with disappointingly little improvement in the lives of everyday people. Too often, the primary reason for this state of affairs is that democratic leaders are either involved in corruption themselves or tolerate corruption, because they are afraid to pay the political costs of tackling this timeless scourge.”

The complete article is available online at: http://www.cipe.org/publications/fs/articles/bolanos.htm

CIPE is a non-profit affiliate of the U.S Chamber of Commerce and one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. CIPE has supported more than 700 local initiatives in over 80 developing countries, involving the private sector in policy advocacy, institutional reform, improving governance, and building understanding
of market-based democratic systems. CIPE programs are also supported through the United States Agency for International Development.