Ortega and Murillo: New powers every seven years

Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua's president, has declared that the country will no longer hold elections, marking a dramatic shift in its political landscape. This announcement came on July 19, a date historically significant in Nicaragua due to its association with the end of the Somoza dictatorship, which ruled the nation for four decades. Now, 47 years after the Sandinista revolution aimed to restore democracy, Ortega, once celebrated as a leftist revolutionary, has seemingly extinguished democratic processes in the Central American nation. Speaking to cheering supporters in Managua, the 80-year-old leader proclaimed, “There will be no more elections in Nicaragua.” The declaration triggered sharp international criticism. The European Union, the United Nations, and several regional countries expressed deep concern over this move, viewing it as a major setback for democracy. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose country is Nicaragua’s primary trade partner, called on the international community to isolate the nation in response to these developments. Following initial attempts by the regime to downplay Ortega’s statements, details emerged regarding a constitutional amendment designed to legally solidify his plans. Gustavo Porras, president of the National Assembly, a body controlled by Ortega, announced that the president’s term would not only be extended to seven years but made renewable, ensuring “stability in vision, action, and continuity.” While Porras emphasized that elections would still occur, the new framework suggests that no electoral contest between candidates would be necessary to confirm Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, who holds the title of co-president, in their positions. The reform aims to prevent any potential opposition candidate from gaining traction. Individuals labeled as “traitors” or “coupmakers” by Ortega, terms he typically applies to his opponents, are set to be excluded from the process. Although such exclusions have been in place for years, this change seeks to formally embed them into the constitution, with final approval expected in September. Opposition figures living abroad strongly condemned the proposed reforms. Dora María Téllez, a former political prisoner, criticized the measure on social media, stating it sought to “permanently consolidate tyranny.” Yader Morazán, an analyst and legal expert, noted that the Ortega-Murillo family would secure “lifetime power, without real limits, without power transitions, and without competitive elections.” Currently, the Ortega family exerts control over political parties, the judiciary, and media in a country with nearly seven million inhabitants. Political adversaries face imprisonment, exile, and loss of citizenship. Many view Murillo as the de facto power behind the scenes and the likely successor to her older husband. Among their nine children, Laureano Ortega Murillo, known for maintaining close ties with Beijing and Moscow, is considered the strongest contender to continue the family’s political legacy.