CenAm Watch: Nicaragua protests, inflation, new Costa Rica president

Nicaragua protests continue

Groups of supporters and opponents of Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega were set to march through the streets of capital Managua on Wednesday afternoon, as anger and resentment continues over the deaths of at least 47 people last month during protests tied to now-cancelled pension reforms.

The social and political crisis, now 21 days in progress, have included calls for Ortega's resignation, largely in light of perceived inaction or even instigation surrounding the dozens killed in protests.

Pictured: The mother of 16-year-old Jesner Rivas, who died during the recent protests demands justice at the Jean Paul Genie roundabout in Managua on May 7, as lawyers stage a new protest against the president.

CPI edges higher

Nicaragua's central bank reported that inflation was 0.24% on a monthly basis in April, bringing the annual rate to 4.75% - up from 3.36% a year before.

The government has forecast GDP growth of between 4.5% and 5% for 2018 with year-end inflation expected at between 5.5% and 6.5%.

Alvarado takes office in Costa Rica

With key fiscal reforms at the top of his agenda, Carlos Alvarado was sworn into office on Tuesday as Costa Rica's new president.

The 38-year-old member of the center-left Citizens Action Party (PAC) previously worked as a journalist, musician and writer, before rising within the PAC as a politician and the historian for outgoing president Luis Guillermo Solís (2014-2018).

The new leader wasted little time to address much-needed fiscal reforms, meeting Wednesday with opposition party leaders to quickly move on proposed legislation that would establish a far-reaching VAT. The VAT initiative is part of other reform proposals, including reduced government spending, to head off a looming crisis in public finances.