Nicaragua's move to eliminate elections has sparked outrage from the international community, following a declaration by President Daniel Ortega that there would be no more elections. The announcement was made on Sunday by Ortega during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which he participated in the overthrow of the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.
Lawmakers in Nicaragua's congress, which is firmly under the control of Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, revealed the plans for a constitutional overhaul that would ensure the country's "peace, security and stability." The overhaul would effectively eliminate any potential path for the opposition to challenge the government led by Ortega and Murillo.
Ortega and Murillo have been consolidating control over the country's political institutions, including the armed forces, police and judiciary. They have also expanded their authority through sweeping constitutional changes that took effect in 2025, extending the presidential term from five years to six and placing the legislative, judicial and electoral institutions under the authority of the presidency.
Critics say Ortega had already eliminated meaningful electoral competition during previous elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021. Many prominent opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal status.
The United Nations has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a campaign to eliminate criticism and preserve its hold on power. A group of experts has said some alleged violations may amount to crimes against humanity.
The international community has widely condemned Ortega's effort to abolish elections. The U.S. Secretary of State has described the move as a demonstration of the dictatorship's true authoritarian nature. "The Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their own leaders through democratic elections," he said, calling on the international community to join forces to demonstrate to the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship that it cannot expect to maintain business as usual with other nations.
The Trump administration has described the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on members of the government and their allies. The State Department has also enacted visa restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.
The United Nations' high commissioner for human rights has denounced Nicaragua's legislative ambitions, saying that "people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office." The high commissioner added that the latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law.
