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Panama Recalls Ambassador to Nicaragua Over Ortega's Election Remarks

From Confidencial · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Panama has recalled its ambassador to Nicaragua following President Daniel Ortega's statement that elections will no longer be held in the country.
  • Panama's Foreign Ministry described Ortega's remarks as a "grave offense" to democratic principles and the fundamental right to vote.
  • Ortega, who has governed Nicaragua since 2007, stated that elections would not be held again to prevent the opposition from gaining power.

Panama has summoned its ambassador to Nicaragua for consultations in response to President Daniel Ortega's declaration that elections will cease to be held in the Central American nation. The Panamanian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, condemning Ortega's remarks as a "grave offense" to democratic principles and the fundamental right to vote.

Suppressing a fundamental right like voting represents a strong offense to democratic principles.

— Panamanian Foreign MinistryCondemning President Daniel Ortega's statement about ending elections in Nicaragua.

By recalling Ambassador Eddy Davis Rodríguez, Panama is effectively lowering the level of diplomatic relations with Nicaragua, according to official sources. Ortega, who has been in power since 2007, made the controversial statement on Sunday, July 19, during the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution. He declared that Nicaragua "will not have elections again so that they (the opposition) try to capture the government, capture power through them."

The Panamanian Foreign Ministry reiterated its commitment to democracy, constitutional order, fundamental freedoms, and political pluralism. It stressed that the "vote is the main mechanism through which citizens freely express their will" and that "respect for popular will, expressed through free, periodic, transparent, and competitive elections, is an essential condition for the existence of democracy."

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

— Daniel OrtegaStating his intention to discontinue elections in Nicaragua.

Panama urged Nicaragua to respect civil and political rights, preserve the electoral path, and ensure the necessary conditions for all voices to participate freely in public life. This stance aligns Panama with Costa Rica and the United States, both of which have also expressed strong disapproval of Ortega's comments. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Ortega of revealing his "true authoritarian nature," while Costa Rica voiced "deep concern" over the closure of civic spaces in Nicaragua.

The vote is the main mechanism through which citizens freely express their will.

— Panamanian Foreign MinistryAffirming the importance of elections in a democratic society.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Confidencial in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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