Tyranny without masks in Nicaragua

Daniel Ortega has shed the last pretense of democracy, declaring that "elections will not be held here again." This pronouncement, made during the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, marks a definitive consolidation of his authoritarian regime. Previously, Ortega's government maintained the facade of elections, using them as a cosmetic tool for international legitimacy while manipulating processes, imprisoning opponents, and stripping political rights.

The Nicaraguan president now enshrines a one-party, dynastic system, distinct even from Cuba's model, which retains the pretense of suffrage. The line of succession appears to be his wife, Rosario Murillo, and their son Laureano, who maintains ties with Russia and China. Ortega justifies this move with paranoia about "Yankee-backed parties," but the reality is a desire for perpetual power through terror and dispossession.

International diplomacy has condemned Ortega's actions, stating he has eliminated any claim to popular consent and challenged the democratic pillars of the inter-American system. Ortega seems to rely on control of security forces, repression, and a seemingly stable economy, partly fueled by concessions to Chinese mining companies, to solidify his dynastic rule amidst fragmented global attention.

Latin American democracies and the European Union are urged to move beyond mere condemnation. Coordinated actions are needed, combining diplomatic isolation, financial pressure on the ruling family's corruption networks, and stricter sanctions against security apparatus leaders. Nicaragua's situation is described as a human tragedy, with the regime having caused hundreds of deaths, forced tens of thousands into exile, and stripped intellectuals and journalists of their nationality and property.

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Here elections will not be held again.