Nicaragua's Ortega Announces End of Elections, Prompting Regional Condemnation

President Daniel Ortega declared that Nicaragua will no longer hold elections, stating “no more elections” during the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution. The announcement follows constitutional changes that elevated his wife, Rosario Murillo, to co‑president and extended the presidential term, consolidating power and eliminating any electoral competition.

The move has triggered widespread criticism. The Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL) condemned the decision as a democratic setback. Opposition groups in exile called on the OAS, UN and European Union to refuse recognition of the regime. Governments in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American nations expressed concern and urged Nicaragua to respect democratic principles. Nicaragua’s foreign ministry defended its sovereign right to determine its political system.

Human‑rights organisations warn the abolition of elections threatens political freedoms, could intensify repression, and may spur further migration from Central America. The development marks a significant erosion of democratic institutions in Nicaragua and raises regional security and governance concerns.