“Why can’t we all just get along?” That plaint is heard often from the country’s Liberals. Split into two main factions (Liberal Constitutionalist Party – PLC and the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance – ALN), they saw themselves lose to the FSLN’s Daniel Ortega in last year’s presidential election who won with a paltry 38% of the vote.

Talks to unite the two bands never seem to get off the ground and having the two blocs vote on an issue in the National Assembly the same way requires plenty of wrangling. This all works to the benefit of the Sandinistas who artfully play the split that runs along the lines of the egos of liberal leaders. The PLCers are divided among themselves as well, differing over the role that former president Arnoldo Alemán is playing. Some want to cut ties with the convicted felon, while others remain steadfastly loyal to him.

Those loyalists in the Assembly use their votes to support some FSLN proposals in a covert exchange that keeps Alemán out of jail and under a surreal form of “house arrest.” This “prisoner” has free run of the whole country in order to conduct his personal business and that of his party, making appearances on TV and radio and speechifying at public gatherings. And he has yet to make a first payment on the millions he was fined.