Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Selects Wife as Running Mate

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega and first lady Rosario Murillo greet supporters during celebrations to mark the 37th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution at the Juan Pablo II square in Managua, Nicaragua July 19, 2016. Picture taken July 19, 2016. REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Tuesday picked his wife, Rosario Murillo, to run as his vice presidential candidate ahead of November elections. Ortega, 70 is running to win a third consecutive term.

According to BBC, Murillo already has a prominent role as the chief government spokeswoman and is widely seen as sharing power with her husband.

Speaking to his supporters, Ortega said: “We don’t doubt that (the vice presidential candidate) had to be a woman, and who better than the partner who has already been tested with work and proved to be very efficient and disciplined?”

Ortega first ruled the Central American country in the 1980s and returned to power in 2007.