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[POLITICS] · Nicaragua, United States, Panama · 100 sources

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Nicaragua President Ortega declares elections will not be held

On July 19‑20, 2026, marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, Nicaragua’s 80‑year‑old President Daniel Ortega announced that there will be no future elections in the country. He told a crowd in Managua, “Aquí no volverá a haber elecciones… para que ellos intenten atrapar el Gobierno y el poder.” Ortega said his administration will work with the National Assembly to pass laws that will build a “wall” against opposition parties, which he labeled “golpistas” and “vendepatrias.”

The declaration follows a 2025 constitutional reform that made Ortega’s wife, Rosario Murillo, co‑president, extended the presidential term from five to six years and postponed the scheduled 2026 vote to November 2027. Ortega’s statement effectively ends any prospect of competitive elections.

International reactions were swift. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the remarks evidence of a “true authoritarian nature” and urged the international community to act. OAS Secretary‑General Albert Ramdin said Nicaragua has abandoned democracy, and Panama summoned its ambassador to protest the move. The announcement consolidates an authoritarian regime and has drawn condemnation from multiple governments and regional bodies.

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