Just hours after the resignation of Werner Vargas Torres as Secretary of the Central American Integration System (SICA), the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo had a new proposal ready, a shortlist led by political operator and State Security agent Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker.
Who is Valdrack Jaentschke?
Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Withaker, is Nicaraguan, was born in Corn Island August 22, 1959. Only son of Valdrack Jaentschke Hall and Zelda Whitaker Campbell. His father worked at the port authority of Corinto and at the United States embassy in Managua; it is known that his mother lived in Managua. He is married to the head of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism, Anasha Campbell.
Jaentschke graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, USA in 1995. In 1991, he graduated in Sociology from the Central American University, UCA and studied Civil Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, UNAN in 1976.
During his youth, Valdrack was actively involved in espionage against the Somoza dictatorship, being part of the Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior in the 1980s in the area of “fighting gangs” in rural areas of Nicaragua.
He also served as an officer in the General Directorate of State Security (DGSE) of the former Ministry of the Interior, where he was stationed in the intelligence service.
His beginnings in political life
During the 1990s, Jaentschke was actively involved in the professionalization of the Nicaraguan armed forces as director of the Center for Strategic Studies (CEEN). From there, he began his close work with civil society and NGOs, seeking funding from the United States to “monitor” liberal governments.
Before Ortega’s victory in 2007, he obtained funding from USAID with a million-dollar fund for the management of an NGO, on the subject of governance and citizen participation, but he was unable to complete the period for which he was hired due to alleged mismanagement and bias in the distribution of funds in favor of the FSLN.
He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Republic from 2007 to 2020 by the Sandinistas. He was also Minister Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic of Nicaragua for the Development of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua in February 2017, maintaining his position as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Related news: Ortega proposes political operator Valdrack Jaentschke as Werner Vargas’ replacement at the SICA Secretariat
Since July 2022, Jaentschke has held the position of Minister Counselor with Consular Functions at the Embassy of Nicaragua in Costa Rica. In addition, he is also Minister Advisor to the Presidency for International Policy and Affairs.
The Sandinista operator also served as non-resident ambassador in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, also representing the Republic of Nicaragua before the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
For more than fifteen years he worked on human development, management, strategic planning, negotiation and decision-making in public policies, also working in the academic field.
Fall from grace?
In 2021, everything seemed to indicate that Valdrack Jaentschke was falling out of favor with the Ortega Murillo dictatorship. Through Presidential Agreement 40-2021, the regime removed Jaentschke from his positions as head of the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He was also removed as a member of the Economic and Financial Cabinet representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Caribbean and representative of Nicaragua to the Association of Caribbean States.
He was also removed as ambassador to nine countries: Belize, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth of Dominica.
However, the Ortega loyalist unexpectedly appeared as the leading figure in the list presented by the regime to SICA, together with Violeta Irias, from the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defense of Human Rights; and the Sandinista deputy Iris Montenegro, according to a letter sent by the Nicaraguan foreign minister, Denis Moncada Colindres, to the members of SICA.
The dictatorship did not explain the reasons for Werner Vargas’ resignation; however, it is known unofficially that Vargas is not liked by the “co-president” Rosario Murillo and saw Jaentschke as a better player within the Central American system due to his loyalty and political knowledge.
The term of the SICA general secretary is four years and it is up to Nicaragua to elect for the period 2022 to 2026.
Opponents warn SICA
Nine opposition organizations in Nicaragua criticized Honduran President Xiomara Castro on Saturday for advocating for the election of a candidate proposed by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega as the new Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
Related news: Opponents ask not to support Valdrack Jaentschke’s candidacy for secretary general of SICA
The opposition Nicaraguan Democratic Concertation (CDN-Monteverde), the Peasant Movement of Nicaragua and the Platform for Unity for Democracy (PUDE) have also warned SICA leaders that Jaentschke would be a danger to Central American countries because Ortega intends for him to operate as a spy within the organization.
“We believe that granting the position to a representative of the Nicaraguan regime would put the security of the Central American region at risk by involving it in a global conflict,” the Nicaraguan opposition movement in exile said in a statement.
For the Nicaraguan opposition, Ortega intends to create an antenna for Russia and China within the regional organization, countries that are currently experiencing armed conflicts, and leave Nicaragua and its neighbors in the middle of this conflict. The Sandinista government has made clear its desire to include Russia as a permanent observer of SICA.
