Ortega Elected President in Nicaragua

Nicaraguan presidential candidate Daniel Ortega of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) talks with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter in Managua, Nicaragua on Monday Nov. 6, 2006. Electoral officials have yet to release final results from Sunday's vote, but preliminary results and two of the country's top electoral watchdog groups all give Ortega about 40 percent of the vote which could mean he will be rising once again to Nicaragua's presidency. (AP Photo/Cristobal Herrera) (Cristobal Herrera - AP)

Ortega could be heard replying with praise for Chavez's so-called "Bolivarian Revolution."

Chavez added that he shortly hoped to see Ortega and that Cuba's Fidel Castro was also pleased by his victory.

Ortega, who served as president from 1985-90, toned down his once-fiery rhetoric during the campaign, promising to support a regional free trade agreement with the U.S. and maintain good relations with Washington.

He says he has changed profoundly since he befriended Soviet leaders, expropriated land and fought Contra rebels in a war that left 30,000 dead and the economy in shambles.

Before he lost the presidency to Violeta Chamorro in 1990, Ortega lowered illiteracy rates from 60 percent to 12 percent and built a free health care system.

He also confiscated many homes, including the estate of a former Contra spokesman, Jaime Morales, who is now his vice president. He reconciled with Morales recently by paying him for the sprawling complex.

Ortega used congressional immunity to dodge rape allegations filed by a stepdaughter, Zoilamerica Narvaez. He has denied the charges, but Narvaez continues to push her case publicly.

The father of nine children _ seven with his wife and campaign manager, Rosario Murillo _ Ortega is known to enjoy ranchera music. But his favorite song is Frank Sinatra's "My Way."