Nicaragua Congress Grants Itself Powers

MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- In a deepening political crisis touched off by anti-corruption efforts, Nicaragua's congress has voted to give itself the power to ratify and dismiss Cabinet ministers and other officials.

The constitutional amendment, which was approved late Thursday and would have to be affirmed again in next year's legislative session to take effect, grew out of a power struggle between President Enrique Bolanos and the party that put him in office, the Liberal Constitutionalist Party.

Bolanos lost its support after his anti-corruption campaign landed the party leader and former president, Arnoldo Aleman, in prison, where he is serving 20 years for fraud and corruption.

Bolanos' spokesman, Lindolfo Monjarretz, warned Friday that the congressional vote has created a political crisis that endangers Nicaragua's fragile economy.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-nicaragua-presidential-powers,0,4597156.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

It is astonishing how people keep electing a corrupt bipartisan entity over and over again :puke: