Nicaraguan Parliament Abolishes Elections to Extend Daniel Ortega's Rule

The National Congress of Nicaragua announced Tuesday that it will implement a plan by Daniel Ortega to abolish elections in the country. This legislative action follows a Sunday speech by Ortega marking the anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, during which he declared that there would be no further elections. The move cancels the vote originally scheduled for November 2027 and aims to extend Ortega's nearly 20-year rule while preventing opposition gains.

The Nicaraguan congress, which is controlled by Ortega and co-President Rosario Murillo, stated that the constitutional overhaul is intended to ensure "peace, security and stability." The Government of Nicaragua declined to comment on subsequent international criticism.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the decision, stating that the developments deepen the erosion of the rule of law and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the move as evidence of the administration's "authoritarian nature" and called on the international community to demonstrate that the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship cannot maintain business as usual while thwarting democratic tenets.