Ortega Moves to Shutter the Ballot Box
Nicaraguan lawmakers have initiated a plan to formally abolish elections, following an announcement by President Daniel Ortega that the country will no longer hold votes. The move, confirmed by the nation’s congress, aims to cement the long-term rule of Ortega and his wife, co-President Rosario Murillo, while drawing condemnation from the United Nations and the United States for the dismantling of democratic processes.
Constitutional Codification of Permanent Power
The Nicaraguan congress, which remains under the firm control of the Ortega-Murillo administration, announced a constitutional overhaul this week to codify the end of electoral processes. This legislative action follows remarks made by President Ortega during the anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, where he declared that “there won’t be any more elections.”
The decision effectively cancels the next scheduled presidential vote, which had been moved to November 2027 after the congress previously voted in January 2025 to extend the five-year presidential term by one year. By eliminating the electoral cycle, the current administration seeks to remove any possibility of opposition parties gaining influence or power.
UN and U.S. Sound the Alarm
The international community has responded with sharp criticism of the constitutional changes. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that the move represents a severe restriction on fundamental freedoms.
“These latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law,” Türk said in a formal statement. He emphasized that citizens of all political viewpoints must retain the right to vote and seek office.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also addressed the situation, characterizing the policy as an indicator of the government’s “true authoritarian nature.” In a statement released Tuesday, Rubio called on the international community to unite in rejecting the administration’s actions, stating that the regime cannot maintain “business as usual” while subverting democratic tenets.
A Multi-Year Siege on Dissent
The decision to abolish elections is the latest step in a years-long effort by the Ortega government to consolidate power. Following the suppression of widespread protests in 2018, the administration has systematically targeted political dissenters.
Government authorities have jailed opposition leaders, religious figures, and activists, while simultaneously shuttering thousands of civil society organizations. The national legislature has repeatedly amended the constitution to centralize authority, effectively removing independent democratic checks. While the administration claims these measures are necessary to ensure “peace, security and stability,” the trend toward total executive control has left little room for legal political opposition within the country.
The Nicaraguan government has not issued a response to the international criticism regarding these constitutional changes.