Nicaragua's Ortega abolishes elections, consolidates permanent rule

Published Jul 23, 07:40 AM UTC

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced the country will no longer hold elections, formalizing a long-term political trajectory. Speaking on the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, the 80-year-old leader framed the decision as a measure to prevent opposition forces from seeking power and to block foreign interference. The Sandinista-controlled National Assembly, operating under a co-presidency shared with Ortega's wife Rosario Murillo, began drafting a constitutional overhaul to implement the directive. This follows years of democratic erosion, including the violent suppression of 2018 protests that left over 300 dead, the outlawing of opposition parties ahead of the 2021 vote, and the imprisonment of politicians, religious figures, and lawyers. At least 46 individuals remain arbitrarily detained. The move effectively ends competitive elections in Nicaragua, consolidating Ortega's continuous rule since 2007.