Violeta Chamorro Biography

Violeta Chamorro was born in Nicaragua to a wealthy family with a history of political involvement and controversy. She grew up during a politically charged time, as the two major political parties warred within Nicaragua. She was well-educated and moved to the United States for a portion of her early years to attend school and learn English. When she came back to Nicaragua, a return prompted by the death of her father, she soon met Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, who was leading the politically charged newspaper ‘La Prensa’ at the time, and married him. When her husband was assassinated, she took over ‘La Prensa’ and dedicated her life to politics. She became deeply involved in politics and joined a ‘Sandinista Party’. After a fall-out, she shifted parties and the newspaper shut down. She joined the United States-funded ‘Contras Party’ and later was nominated as a presidential candidate. She was backed by the United States and won office, thus effectively ending civil war in Nicaragua. Though her policies and changes were not always popular, but her work to establish democracy and peace among the divided parties in Nicaragua are the highlights of her political career. She retired from politics at the end of her presidential term