Nicaraguan President declares no more elections

July 23, 2026 | 12:18pm

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said the country will no longer hold elections, effectively eliminating future electoral challenges and further consolidating the power he shares with his wife, Rosario Murillo. Ortega, who has ruled continuously since 2007, said the move would prevent opposition groups from returning to power. His announcement follows years of democratic backsliding, including a disputed 2021 election, constitutional changes that expanded his authority, and widespread international criticism over human rights abuses and the government's violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018.