[2][3] The Sandinista rebels announced the Junta as its provisional government on June 16, 1979,[4] as the civil war against Anastasio Somoza Debayle entered its final phase.

[5][6] In the first half of July, United States government envoy William Bowdler pressured the Sandinistas to broaden the junta by adding more members, such as Adolfo Calero, Ismael Reyes, and Mariano Fiallos.

[10] On March 4, Cruz's appointment to Washington was announced,[11] together with Hassan's departure for the Council of State[12] and Ortega's promotion to Coordinator of the now three-member junta.

While the junta may have offered little authority to its non-Sandinista members, the public role did help to solidify Ortega's primacy within the FSLN directorate and enhance Ramírez's prominence.

On November 4, 1984, a presidential election was held,[13] which was won by leading junta member and revolutionary Daniel Ortega and his running mate, Sergio Ramírez as vice president.