Nicaragua [1]’s present constitution, written in 1987 by the FSLN administration, was amended in 1995 to balance the distribution of power more evenly between the legislative and executive branches. The National Assembly’s ability to veto was bolstered and the president’s ability to veto reduced. It was revised in 2000 to increase the power of the Supreme Court and the comptroller-general’s office, and in 2008 to do away with mandated term limits.
Prior to Ortega’s return in 2006, Nicaraguans enjoyed far greater freedoms than most other Latin American nations, including unparalleled freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of movement, and the right to assembly and to form unions. In practice, these freedoms have slipped dramatically under the new Ortega administration.
While officially, there is no government censorship of journalists, in practice, journalists and photographers report unsubtle harrassment, interference, and threats of violence, and Ortega has not hesitated to send the police through offices of newspapers and NGOs that don’t fully toe the party line.
The Nicaraguan constitution prohibits discrimination by birth, nationality, political belief, race, gender, language, religion, opinion, national origin, or economic or social condition. And Nicaraguans are permitted to form labor unions. Nearly half of the workforce, including much of the agricultural labor, is unionized.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/nicaragua