Nicaragua's Ortega Declares 'Elections Will Never Happen Again,' Cancels 2027 Vote

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega declared that "elections will never happen again" in the country, a statement that effectively cancels the upcoming 2027 elections and underscores his determination to prolong his nearly two-decade rule. Ortega asserted that this move is intended to prevent opposition figures from "trapping the government" and seizing power.

The declaration came during an anniversary event for the Sandinista Revolution, which first brought Ortega to power in 1979. He returned to the presidency in 2007 and has since consolidated control over all branches of government, rewritten the constitution, and suppressed political opposition. The 2021 elections, which Ortega claimed victory in, were widely deemed illegitimate by the international community, and the United States does not recognize his presidency.

"Here there will be no more elections... so that they [the opposition] do not try to trap the Government, trap power through that," Ortega stated in a speech in Managua, also criticizing Washington. "The story of parties chosen by the 'Yankees,' chosen by the 'Somocistas,' returning to government is over. Never, never, never," he added.

Opposition figures and human rights groups view Ortega's announcement as a further intensification of his power consolidation efforts. Juan Sebastián Chamorro, a former presidential candidate imprisoned until his deportation in 2023, stated that Ortega's declaration reveals a long-standing plan to concentrate power within the Sandinista Party, similar to one-party states like China and Cuba. Félix Maradiaga, another opposition leader also deported to the U.S. in 2023, echoed these sentiments, viewing Ortega's statement as a clear indication of his intent to maintain absolute control.