In January the government suspended a long-awaited concession of 2, 600 km of federal roads on the ground that returns to investors of nearly 13%, the ceiling set by the government's audit court, would be too generous.

ECONOMIST: Lower inflation has done wonders for finance and industry

Since then, however, the audit office has closed the investigation into Mr Aleman, despite much publicity for his acquisition of properties, on the ground that presidential immunity from arrest makes any investigation futile.

ECONOMIST: Nicaragua