Ortega Declares an End to Elections, Entrenching His Rule in Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s long-time leader Daniel Ortega has announced there will be no more elections to keep the opposition from reclaiming power. He plans to work with his Congress to pass laws that block rival parties and cement his grip on government. Speaking at the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, Ortega said the days when U.S.-backed and Somoza-aligned forces could return are over. He has already extended presidential terms, appointed his wife as co-president and tightened control over the armed forces and judiciary. International bodies accuse the Ortega administration of human rights abuses and electoral fraud. Critics point to the 2018 crackdown that left over 300 dead, the jailing of opposition figures and sweeping sanctions from the U.S. government.

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