Editorial: Nicaragua No Longer Pretends as Ortega and Murillo Bury Elections

Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo government is no longer even pretending to preserve the forms of political competition, La Nación argues in an editorial. A constitutional reform has formally eliminated electoral competition, prolonged the presidential term and strengthened family control over the country.

The editorial says the change confirms what has already been happening in practice. Daniel Ortega, Rosario Murillo and their family, it argues, have made their determination to exercise absolute control explicit.

La Nación presents the reform as the end of the remaining institutional appearance of competition. Its conclusion is direct: Costa Rica and the international community must respond firmly to the deepening concentration of power in Nicaragua.