Editing Daniel Ortega (section)

=== 2001 presidential election ===
{{Main|2001 Nicaraguan general election}}
In the November 2001 general elections, Ortega lost his third successive presidential election, this time to [[Enrique Bolaños]] of the [[Constitutionalist Liberal Party]].

Under Ortega's direction, the FSLN formed the broad [[National Convergence (Nicaragua)|National Convergence]] (Convergencia Nacional) coalition in opposition to the PLC. Ortega abandoned the revolutionary tone of the past, and infused his campaign with religious imagery, giving thanks in speeches to "God and the Revolution" for the post-1990 democracy, and said a Sandinista victory would enable the Nicaraguan people to "pass through the sea and reach the Promised Land".{{sfn|Baltodano|2012|pp=76-7}} The US opposed Ortega's candidacy from the beginning. The US ambassador even appeared with the PLC's Enrique Bolaños while distributing food aid.<ref>McConnell,&nbsp;Shelley&nbsp;A. "The uncertain evolution of the electoral system", in {{harvnb|Close|Marti i Puig|McConnell|2012}}, p.&nbsp;142.</ref> The 11 September 2001, terrorist attacks doomed Ortega's chances, as the threat of a US invasion became an issue. Bolanos convinced many Nicaraguans that the renewed US hostility towards terrorism would endanger their country if the openly anti-US Ortega prevailed.{{sfn|DeFronzo|2011|p=280}} Bolanos ended up with 56.3% of the vote, and Ortega won 42.3%.<ref>McConnell,&nbsp;Shelley&nbsp;A.  "The uncertain evolution of the electoral system", in {{harvnb|Close|Marti i Puig|McConnell|2012}}, p.&nbsp;143.</ref>