Nicaragua's President Ortega says no more elections, extending his 20-year rule

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. The Americas Nicaragua's President Ortega says no more elections, extending his 20-year rule July 21, 20263:10 PM ET By The Associated Press President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, lead a rally in Managua, Nicaragua, Sept. Alfredo Zuniga/AP hide caption toggle caption Alfredo Zuniga/AP MEXICO CITY — Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega said his country won't be holding elections anytime soon, a statement underscoring the strongman's efforts to extend his nearly 20-year rule and dashing hopes by the opposition that he might heed their demands for a democratic vote. The announcement effectively canceled Nicaragua's next elections, originally scheduled for November 2027 after the government-controlled Congress voted in January 2025 to extend the five-year presidential term by one year.

Immigration DHS ends temporary protected status for thousands from Nicaragua and Honduras Ortega spoke on Sunday at the anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution that toppled the Somoza dictatorship in 1979 and first brought him to power. He returned to the presidency in 2007 and has since rewritten the constitution, crushed political opposition and solidified his control over virtually all branches of the Nicaraguan government. Since mass protests in 2018, which led to a bloody government crackdown that killed hundreds, Ortega and his wife and co-President Rosario Murillo have been holding on to power.

The Details

Ortega declared himself the winner of the 2021 election — a vote widely viewed as illegitimate by the international community — after jailing all the candidates who could have possibly beaten him. does not recognize Ortega's presidency. Sponsor Message "There won't be anymore elections," Ortega said in a speech railing on his longtime adversary, the United States.

"Parties put in place by the Yankees, put in place by the Somoza regime, coming back to power — that story is over. " "Never, never, never," he said of any future elections. Opponents and rights groups said the Sunday announcement represents an escalation as Ortega further solidifies his grip on Nicaragua.

Juan Sebastián Chamorro, a 2021 candidate who was behind bars until he was released to the U. in 2023 with more than 200 other political prisoners, said the announcement reveals Ortega's longstanding plan to consolidate power in the hands of the Sandinista party, similar to other one-party rule countries like China and Cuba. "Ortega and Murillo are evidently afraid at the idea that the slightest political opening could create the conditions for dissent to manifest and threaten their grip on power," said Tiziano Breda, a senior Latin America analyst at independent conflict monitor ACLED.

"Instead of staging a rigged election, they have opted to eliminate electoral competition altogether," he added.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.