The other officials, including Mr. Lacayo, resigned. Mrs. Chamorro refused to accept Mr. Vidaurre's resignation, and he remained part of her administration for one more year before returning to private practice. As a lawyer, he continued to develop a reputation for speaking out against government corruption, and was drafted to lead the Conservative Party ticket in the 1996 elections. In a crowded field of 24 national parties, Arnoldo Alem n of the Liberal Alliance won, in part by campaigning to turn out the Chamorro government's corrupt officials. By drawing more than 25,000 votes in the national election, Mr. Vidaurre was automatically awarded a legislative seat.
Corruption is big.
Mr. Vidaurre is one of Nicaragua's most ardent spokesmen for foreign investment, but he insists that it will not come until corruption goes away. The rules of investment must be clear so that an investor can come in and invest without having to meet privately with a government minister, pay a bribe. We need the rules of the game to be clear and the same for everyone. Those government officials will prosper. The construction company will make a fortune.