Ortega formalizes his dictatorship in Nicaragua: 'There will be no more elections'

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has explicitly dismantled any possibility of democratic alternation in power, declaring that elections will not be permitted to prevent the opposition from seizing control. "Elections will not happen here again so that they (the opposition) do not try to capture the government, capture power through them," Ortega stated during an event commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution in Managua. Ortega, an 80-year-old former Sandinista guerrilla who has governed Nicaragua since 2007, faces numerous accusations of electoral fraud and political repression. In 2017, his wife, Rosario Murillo, became co-governor through a constitutional reform, effectively transforming the dictatorship into a dynasty. During the recent ceremony, Ortega described exiled opponents as "lurking" and accused them of aiming to enrich themselves through electoral victories. He also announced plans to work with the National Assembly, a parliament subordinate to his authority, to enact laws that would create a "wall" against "coup plotters" and "traitors," regardless of financial backing from the United States. Since February 2025, a reform constitutionally established Murillo as co-governor, abolished the separation of powers, and granted absolute authority to the presidential couple. This amendment extended the presidential term from five to six years, introduced the position of "co-president," stipulated that the executive "coordinates" other state "organs" (no longer called powers), and legalized statelessness. Consequently, while Nicaragua was scheduled to hold general elections in November 2026, the constitutional amendments mean the presidential term would theoretically end in November 2027.

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Here elections will not happen again so that they (the opposition) do not try to capture the government, capture power through them.