Nicaragua: Daniel Ortega appears in public after death speculation

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega appeared in public after a 10-day absence which had led to rumors about his health.

Daniel Ortega appeared on Monday greeting newly appointed Nicaraguan Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes at the airport in the capital, Managua.

Referring to the rumors, the president told the cardinal he had “carried out the miracle of resurrecting me because a lot people thought I was dead”.

Daniel Ortega, a former Sandinista rebel, is serving his third term in office.

There had been feverish speculation about his state of health after he began missing official ceremonies after February 21.

On February 26, Daniel Ortega had been expected to attend an event commemorating the 1978 indigenous uprising in Monimbo, in which his brother was killed.

The following day, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa cancelled a planned trip to Nicaragua, citing scheduling problems on the side of the Nicaraguan government.

Some rumors circulated on social media saying Daniel Ortega had health problems and was receiving treatment in Cuba, while others said he had died days previously on the Communist-run island.