Page "History of Nicaragua" Paragraph 35

President Luis Somoza Debayle, under pressure from the rebels, announced that national elections would be held in February 1963.

Election reforms had been made that established secret ballots and a supervising electoral commission, although the Conservative Party never elected any members of the commission.

Somoza had also introduced a constitutional amendment that would prevent family members from succeeding him.

The opposition was extremely skeptical of Somoza's promises, and ultimately control of the country passed to Anastasio Somoza Debayle after Luis died of a heart attack in 1967.