Daniel Ortega announces Nicaragua will no longer hold elections to prevent opposition parties from seizing power.
Daniel Ortega, the 80-year-old authoritarian leader of Nicaragua, announced that the country will no longer hold elections to prevent opposition parties from seizing power. Speaking during the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Sandinista revolution, Daniel Ortega stated that the move would "build a wall" against "coup plotters" and "traitors." The announcement effectively cancels the next elections, which were originally scheduled for 2027. By eliminating electoral competition, the administration aims to solidify its grip on the country and prevent any political openings that could allow dissent to manifest. This move follows a period of steady democratic erosion under the rule of Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. The administration has already demonstrated its control by jailing many opposition candidates and criminalizing dissent. While the international community, including the United States, views the current government as a dictatorship, Daniel Ortega maintains that the move is necessary to protect the nation from the influence of U.S.-backed parties.