Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has declared that the country will no longer hold elections, effectively ending the democratic process as a vehicle for political change. Speaking on July 19 during the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista uprising in Managua, Ortega stated, “There will be no more elections here,” framing the move as a necessary measure to prevent the opposition from seizing power.
Ortega, 80, who has governed Nicaragua since 2007, announced that his government would work with the National Assembly and other state institutions to construct a “wall” against political parties that seek to challenge his rule. While the next general elections were constitutionally scheduled for November 2027 following a 2025 reform that extended presidential terms to six years, Ortega’s remarks suggest that these legal provisions will not be honored in practice.
The announcement follows a period of intense consolidation of power by Ortega and his wife, co-president Rosario Murillo. Since the 2018 political crisis, the regime has systematically dismantled the political opposition, resulting in the imprisonment of presidential candidates, the exile of thousands of citizens, and the revocation of citizenship for many critics. International bodies, including the United Nations and the European Union, have previously condemned the erosion of institutional independence in the country.
During the ceremony, which notably lacked the presence of foreign dignitaries, Ortega also criticized U.S. foreign policy and expressed solidarity with regimes in Venezuela and Cuba. He further urged supporters to report perceived domestic threats to the police, reinforcing a climate of surveillance that has been documented by human rights organizations.