[1] In 1990 he founded the Nicaraguan Democratic Movement and supported the election of President Violeta Chamorro.
In 2002, when Enrique Bolaños was elected president, Leal became one of his top aides, and became presidential chief of staff in November 2004.
In 2005 he led government talks with leftist and rightest parties over constitutional changes that were to weaken the powers of the president.
Leal became ill with a rare case of pneumonia early in December 2005 and was sent to the United States for medical treatment.
He spent three weeks at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami, Florida but eventually died there of his illness.