Nicaragua's government-controlled National Assembly is set to debate and vote on legislation that would prohibit opposition parties from participating in elections. The vote is scheduled for the first week of August. This move follows recent statements by President Daniel Ortega, who declared that "there will be no more elections for them [the opposition] to try to seize the government, to seize power."
Ortega, who has been in power since 2007, accused the opposition of being financed by the United States and conspiring to win elections. He stated that new laws would be enacted "to create a wall, to block the coup mongers," ensuring they could not seize power regardless of external funding.
These remarks have drawn criticism from international bodies and officials. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that "people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Ortega's words, calling them a revelation of the "true authoritarian nature" of his rule and asserting that Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, have "abandoned even the pretense of popular consent."
Gustavo Porras, head of Nicaragua's National Assembly, dismissed international criticism in an interview with a government-aligned news outlet. He indicated that the legislature and the country's electoral authority were discussing measures to prevent any possibility of the opposition gaining a foothold.
The 2021 presidential elections in Nicaragua were also marked by a severe crackdown on the opposition, with potential candidates detained, disqualified, or forced into exile. Only a limited number of lesser-known candidates were permitted to run, and Ortega secured victory.
In November 2025, Nicaragua's presidential term was extended from five to six years through a constitutional reform passed by the National Assembly. This reform also designated Vice President Rosario Murillo as "co-president," enabling her to assume the presidency if Ortega, reportedly in frail health, is declared "permanently absent."
Since the security forces suppressed anti-government protests in 2018, resulting in over 300 deaths, public dissent against Ortega and Murillo has been rare. Nicaraguan opposition figures living in exile have strongly denounced Ortega's latest proposals. Juan Sebastián Chamorro suggested that this indicates Ortega's ambition to transform Nicaragua into a one-party state similar to China, North Korea, and Cuba. Felix Maradiaga, a former presidential candidate who was imprisoned under Ortega's administration, stated that the move demonstrates Ortega's fear of dissent and his acknowledgment that the desire for change remains alive within the country.