Nicaraguan opposition proposes 24-month democratic transition plan

Nicaraguan opposition organizations in exile have proposed a 24-month roadmap titled ‘Nicaragua: Ordered Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy.’ The plan aims to dismantle the current regime led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo through a structured process involving a transitional board, a 60-member constituent assembly, and the eventual holding of free elections.

The proposal outlines several key objectives, including the repeal of the current political constitution, the release of political prisoners, the safe return of exiles, and ensuring the military is subordinated to civilian power. Opposition leader Juan Sebastián Chamorro stated the plan is necessary to counter a potential ‘dynastic transition’ intended to pass power to the leaders' children.

While the document provides detailed institutional architecture for a post-regime government, some analyses suggest strategic gaps. Critics note that while the plan describes how to govern after a collapse, it lacks a concrete strategy for forcing the current leadership out of power or neutralizing the regime's control over police and paramilitary forces.