Ortega easily wins new term, with wife as VP

President Daniel Ortega overwhelmingly won re-election to a third consecutive term in official results announced on Monday, putting him in position to govern for a quarter-century and cement family control over the country with his wife now officially vice-president.

With nearly all votes counted, the ticket of the former guerrilla leader and first lady Rosario Murillo captured 72.5 percent, compared with 15 percent for the next-closest finisher among five lesser-known challengers. Their ruling Sandinista Party is also poised to retain its domination of Congress.

But governing during his new five-year term could prove to be a tougher task.