Daniel Ortega is the president of Nicaragua. A former Marxist-Leninist guerrilla, he first ruled from 1979 to 1990 after overthrowing the Somoza dynasty that had run Nicaragua for four decades. He lost the 1990 election to Violeta Chamorro with 45% of the vote. He returned to power in 2007 after winning an election.
In 2024 he overhauled the constitution to elevate his wife, Rosario Murillo, to "co-president", paving the way for her to succeed him. His daughter from a previous marriage to Ms Murillo accused him of raping her; Mr Ortega denies the accusation.
No amount of careful planning will ever replace dumb luck.