Daniel Ortega rules out elections in Nicaragua to avoid a triumph of the opposition

President Daniel Ortega has ruled Nicaragua for nearly two decades and has now dismissed the possibility of holding elections in his country to prevent the opposition, based abroad, from ever gaining power. Speaking during a public ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution in Managua, Ortega declared, “Forget it, here, in Nicaragua, there will never again be elections so they can try to seize government and power.” His remarks were directed at opponents who have been living in exile since the 2018 protests, which saw widespread repression and over 300 deaths according to the United Nations. Ortega, 80 years old, led the revolution against the Somoza dictatorship in the 1980s before returning to power in 2007. Since then, he has maintained control through controversial elections and measures that have effectively removed rivals. He governs alongside his wife, Rosario Murillo, who holds the position of vice president. Nicaragua was set to hold general elections in November, but a constitutional reform enacted nearly 18 months ago extended the presidential term from five to six years, pushing the next election to November 2027. The Ortega-Murillo regime exercises absolute authority over Nicaraguan society, particularly after the violent crackdown on the 2018 protests. Opposition figures have been imprisoned, forced into exile, stripped of citizenship and property, and targeted journalists, intellectuals, and religious leaders critical of the government. Thousands of Nicaraguans live as refugees in neighboring countries such as Costa Rica, Spain, and the United States. Exile-based opposition movements remain hopeful that international pressure could lead to political transition or free elections. In his speech, Ortega accused the opposition of plotting to establish parties that would win future elections. “They have been conspiring... trying to organize parties so that in an election they suppose, these parties will win,” he claimed, addressing thousands of supporters gathered in a square in Managua. He further warned that the influence of foreign-backed parties, whom he referred to as “Yanqui parties,” would never return to power. “Never, never, never,” he repeated, emphasizing his determination to block any challenge to his rule. Ortega also announced plans to introduce new laws aimed at curbing opposition activity. Speaking alongside his wife and some of their children, he stated that legislation would be drafted with the National Assembly and relevant organizations to create barriers against “coup plotters” and “traitors to the homeland.” These laws would reportedly make it impossible for opposition groups, even with financial support from foreign entities, to gain access to power. In recent months, Ortega has been largely absent from public life, appearing only occasionally. At the recent ceremony, he arrived in a car, indicating mobility issues. Opponents claim that Murillo is conducting internal purges within state institutions, preparing for a potential succession following Ortega’s possible death. The leader suffers from lupus and kidney failure, though this has not been officially confirmed. The United States has warned that it will respond to any fraudulent elections in Nicaragua with additional sanctions against the ruling regime. Both Ortega and Murillo accuse the opposition of treason and plot against the nation, similar to the 2018 protests. They also criticize international bodies that highlight serious human rights violations, calling them “interferers” and “liars.” Ortega, once a guerrilla fighter for the leftist Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN), led the overthrow of the Somoza family's 42-year dictatorship in July 1979. His continued grip on power underscores the deepening authoritarianism in Nicaragua, with little sign of change despite growing international scrutiny.