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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Nicaragua rejects Costa Rica’s criticism and refuses ‘interference’ in its affairs

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Ongoing story
  • Nicaragua rejected Costa Rica’s criticism of its democratic deterioration and said it would not accept outside interference in its internal affairs.
  • Costa Rica criticized constitutional reforms that could restrict political participation and extend the presidential mandate, while pledging coordinated action through the OAS.
  • Nicaragua’s first legislative approval of the reforms could move general elections from November 2026 to November 2027 if the changes take effect.

Nicaragua responded sharply to Costa Rica after San José warned of a “continuous deterioration of democracy” and criticized constitutional reforms advancing through Managua’s legislature.

In an official note, Nicaragua’s Foreign Ministry said the country was sovereign and would not accept interference in its internal affairs. It called for relations between the Central American neighbors to respect each country’s right to pursue its own institutional processes.

We do not accept interference by others in our own affairs.

· Nicaragua’s Foreign MinistryThe ministry rejected Costa Rica’s criticism and defended Nicaragua’s sovereignty.

The ministry also said Nicaragua did not comment on Costa Rican affairs, including what it described as serious threats to the security and lives of that country’s senior authorities. The note was signed by Co-Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke.

Nicaragua is a dignified and sovereign country and people.

· Nicaragua’s Foreign MinistryThe official note emphasized Nicaragua’s response to Costa Rica’s concerns.

Costa Rica said the situation had worsened after Nicaragua’s National Assembly approved the constitutional changes in a first legislative session. The reforms would further limit political and electoral participation, bar people labeled “traitors to the homeland” from elected office and extend the presidential mandate to seven years. Costa Rica called for respect for human rights, the rule of law and the right of Nicaraguans to freely choose their future through pluralistic elections. It also said it would support “a firm and coordinated response” through the Organization of American States.

The reforms require a second legislative approval to take effect. President Daniel Ortega, who has governed since 2007, said they would be approved on Jan. 18 during the next legislative session. He also said Nicaragua would not hold elections again, a statement that drew widespread international rejection. General elections had been due in November 2026, but the constitutional amendments extended the presidential term and would place them in November 2027.

There will be no more elections in our country.

· Daniel OrtegaOrtega’s statement prompted international rejection and would affect the timing of Nicaragua’s next general elections.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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