Ortega and Murillo aim to impose 'dynastic dictatorship' in Nicaragua, experts say

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo are reportedly moving to solidify a "dynastic dictatorship" through proposed constitutional reforms, according to an analysis by the Center for Transdisciplinary Studies of Central America (Cetcam). The center highlights that Ortega signaled this intention on July 19, announcing an end to future elections and plans to submit reforms to the National Assembly. The president of the assembly, Gustavo Porras, subsequently announced an initiative to amend the Constitution, which Cetcam argues would "definitively annul the possibility of fair, competitive, and transparent elections." Key proposed changes include extending the presidential term from five to seven years, a measure that would also apply to over 7,000 public offices, encompassing elected positions, the military, and the police. Cetcam notes that Ortega and Murillo previously reformed the constitution between 2024 and 2025 to subordinate all state powers to the presidency, create dual copresidencies, and restrict public office eligibility for those deemed "traitors to the homeland." These developments are seen by the experts as a grave precedent for Latin America and the world, marking the "culmination of a process in which the Ortegas Murillos have buried the last vestiges of democracy and citizen rights in Nicaragua." The international community, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union, is closely observing Nicaragua's political trajectory. The United States has been particularly vocal, requesting an extraordinary session of the OAS Permanent Council to address the situation, generating significant expectations for a hemispheric response.