Sergio Ramírez Mercado (Latin American Spanish: [ˈseɾxjo raˈmiɾes]; born 5 August 1942 in Masatepe, Nicaragua) is a Nicaraguan writer and intellectual who was a key figure in 1979 revolution, served in the leftist Government Junta of National Reconstruction and as vice president of the country 1985–1990 under the presidency of Daniel Ortega.

He received his law degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua of León in 1964, where he obtained the Gold Medal for being the best student.

[2] The Group were forced into exile in Costa Rica, but their return was one of the key events heralding the end of the Somoza government.

Though the FSLN lost power to the UNO coalition headed by Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in 1990, Ramírez continued to serve as the leader of the Sandinista block in the National Assembly until 1995, when he founded the Movimiento de Renovación Sandinista (MRS) because of his differences with other leaders of the FSLN, such as former president Daniel Ortega, on issues of democratic reform.

Since then, Ramírez has retired definitively from politics and his literary work has gained international recognition and his novels have been translated into several languages.

He recently won the "Carlos Fuentes" prize, awarded by Mexico, in recognition of his life long work.

[citation needed]In June 2021, he was forced into exile during repression of the opposition in the lead-up to the 2021 Nicaraguan general election; the government issued a warrant for his arrest in September.

In January 2000, he was awarded the first "José María Arguedas Narrative Prize" from the Casa de las Américas.