Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega Declares End to Elections, Shutting Out Opposition Challenges

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has declared that the Central American nation will no longer conduct elections, a move that effectively eliminates any potential route for opposition forces to challenge the government he leads alongside his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Ortega, who holds the distinction of being Nicaragua’s longest-serving leader, has continuously governed since 2007, following an earlier period in power during the 1980s. His current presidential term is slated to conclude in 2027.

“There won't be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,” Ortega stated.

These remarks were made on a Sunday during an address commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, an event in which Ortega himself participated in the overthrow of the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.

The declaration signals a clear intention to remove the possibility of future electoral challenges as Ortega and Murillo continue to centralize their authority over the country’s political structures.

“The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over — never again,” Ortega proclaimed.

International Scrutiny and Sanctions

The Trump administration previously characterized the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and implemented sanctions against government officials and their allies. The State Department has also imposed visa restrictions targeting over 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.

“The United States stands with the Nicaraguan people who, like Rivera, aspire to see a free Nicaragua,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in June.

The Biden administration had previously asserted that Ortega illegitimately secured another term after Nicaragua’s contentious 2021 presidential election.

In the lead-up to that vote, authorities detained presidential candidates, prominent opposition figures, business leaders, and journalists, as the government intensified its efforts to criminalize dissent.

Consolidation of Power and Constitutional Changes

Ortega and Murillo further expanded their authority through extensive constitutional amendments that came into effect in 2025. These reforms extended the presidential term from five years to six and elevated Murillo from vice president to “co-president.”

According to experts from the United Nations, these changes also placed Nicaragua’s legislative, judicial, and electoral institutions directly under the authority of the presidency.

Presently, Ortega and Murillo exert control over nearly every branch of the government, including the armed forces, police, and judiciary.

Salvador Marenco, coordinator for the Costa Rica-based Nicaragua Nunca Más Human Rights Collective, informed Reuters that Ortega had already effectively eliminated meaningful electoral competition during the elections held in 2011, 2016, and 2021.

Many prominent opposition leaders have faced imprisonment, been forced into exile, or had their Nicaraguan citizenship revoked, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal recognition.

Human Rights Concerns and Crackdown

A group of United Nations experts has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a deliberate campaign to suppress criticism and maintain its grip on power. These experts indicated that some of the alleged violations may constitute crimes against humanity.

In 2018, the government initiated a violent crackdown on anti-government protests. International human rights organizations reported that more than 300 people were killed during the period of unrest.