Nicaragua's National Assembly has moved to abolish elections, directly implementing President Daniel Ortega's plan to extend his nearly 20-year rule and eliminate any formal challenge to his power. The assembly, firmly controlled by Ortega and his wife, co-president Rosario Murillo, announced Tuesday that this constitutional reform will ensure the country's “peace, security and stability.” This declaration follows Ortega's weekend statement that “here there will be no more elections,” a clear signal of the ruling faction's intent to consolidate its hold. The move effectively cancels elections originally scheduled for November 2027, a vote already pushed back after the National Assembly extended the presidential term by one year in January 2025.
Consolidating Elite Power
Ortega's regime has systematically dismantled democratic structures to entrench its authority. The National Assembly has repeatedly amended the constitution, concentrating power in Ortega's hands. These legislative maneuvers have removed any trace of democratic independence and dissent within the country's formal political system. The stated goal of “peace, security and stability” serves as a justification for the ruling elite's continued dominance, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of power and wealth to the top.
Crushing Collective Action
Beyond legislative changes, the government has carried out a broad crackdown on dissent since the violent suppression of 2018 protests. Authorities have jailed opposition politicians, religious leaders, and other critics. Thousands of civil society organizations have been shut down. This systematic repression targets any collective organizing that might challenge the existing distribution of power, effectively silencing the voices of workers, the dispossessed, and any organized opposition. The state apparatus, including its police forces, has been deployed to enforce this suppression, as evidenced by a July 13, 2018, photo showing Nicaraguan police with President Daniel Ortega in Masaya.
Imperial Hypocrisy Exposed
International bodies have offered condemnations, but their actions reveal the limits of liberal reformism. Volker Türk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, stated Wednesday that “all people, of all political views, must be able to vote and run for public office,” criticizing the “severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms.” Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, declared Tuesday that Ortega and Murillo's move “lays bare their true authoritarian nature,” urging the international community to act. However, the U.S. government under President Donald Trump, despite "harsh words, sanctions and repeated criticism," took few major steps against Managua. This contrasts sharply with Washington's praise for President Nayib Bukele in nearby El Salvador, a Trump ally who has also weakened democratic checks and attacked critics. Such selective outrage exposes how imperial powers prioritize geopolitical interests over genuine democratic principles, managing contradictions rather than challenging the foundations of authoritarian rule when it serves their strategic aims.