Nicaragua's parliament intends to abolish national elections, following a directive from President Daniel Ortega, a move that has drawn renewed criticism from the international community. The legislative body, controlled by Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, announced the plan Tuesday, stating it is intended to ensure the country’s “peace, security and stability.”
Ortega announced over the weekend that “there won’t be anymore elections,” signaling an effort to extend his nearly two-decade rule and prevent any possibility of opposition gains. This announcement effectively cancels Nicaragua’s next scheduled elections, which were slated for November 2027. The presidential term was previously extended by one year in January 2025 by the government-controlled congress.
Under Ortega, Nicaragua has seen a significant crackdown on dissent since violent protests in 2018 were suppressed. Authorities have arrested opposition politicians and religious leaders, and dissolved thousands of civil society organizations. The constitution has been repeatedly amended to centralize power with Ortega and remove democratic independence and avenues for dissent.
Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, sharply condemned the developments on Wednesday, emphasizing that citizens of all political leanings must be permitted to vote and run for office. He stated in a release that "These latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law."
The Nicaraguan government has responded to criticism by stating, “Thank you for your interest.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented Tuesday that the move by Ortega and Murillo to eliminate elections “lays bare their true authoritarian nature.” Rubio urged the international community to unite and signal to the “Murillo-Ortega dictatorship” that maintaining normal relations is not feasible while undermining democratic principles in the hemisphere.
The Trump administration, despite strong criticisms and sanctions against Nicaragua, has taken limited significant action. In contrast, the U.S. administration has largely commended El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, an ally of former President Donald Trump, for consolidating his power and addressing critics, even as Bukele has dismantled democratic checks and balances.