Nicaragua's Ortega declares end to elections, consolidating power

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has declared an end to elections in the country, effectively cementing his authoritarian rule and drawing comparisons to North Korea's Kim Jong-un. The dramatic announcement came during a July 19 celebration commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, a day historically marked by the victory over the Somoza regime in 1979.

Speaking before a crowd in Managua's Plaza de la Fe, Ortega stated, "I want you to forget, there will be no more elections here so that they (opponents) try to capture the government and power. They are conspiring, figuring out how to organize parties, so that in an election these parties supposedly win." The president, who is 81 years old, delivered the statement with a tone described as a political testament, more akin to figures like Raúl Castro and Nicolás Maduro than his past allies Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez.

This declaration follows a pattern of suppressing democratic opposition. In the 2021 sham elections, the Sandinista regime imprisoned seven democratic aspirants who posed a significant threat to Ortega's leadership. The regime also allowed so-called "collaborator parties," derisively called "zancudos" (mosquitoes) by locals, to serve as nominal rivals. The opposition denounced that electoral charade as a "great scam."

Ortega further outlined his plan, stating, "We are going to work with the National Assembly because we need to make laws that put a wall around the coup plotters, the traitors to the country, and that no matter how much money the Yanquis give them, they won't be able to win." The National Assembly swiftly responded on Tuesday, issuing a statement confirming it is "convening to fulfill the mandates received."