Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega has announced the cancellation of next year's elections, stating he will continue to hold power without a vote.
Ortega, who has been in office since 2007, confirmed his decision not to hold elections in a report by the Associated Press on July 21. Analysts suggest this move is aimed at maintaining his two-decade-long authoritarian rule and suppressing opposition.
According to the New York Times, Ortega made his declaration during a government rally in Managua on July 19, commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution. He stated, "There will be no more elections here," claiming that the opposition uses elections as a means to seize power. He also emphasized that parties established by the U.S. and the Somoza regime would not be able to gain power.
In his speech, Ortega devoted much of his remarks to criticizing the U.S. and the opposition, labeling them as agents supported by the U.S. He pledged that his government would enact new laws to create barriers against coup plotters and traitors.
Ortega came to power through the Sandinista Revolution, which overthrew the Somoza dictatorship in 1979. He was first elected president in 1985 and served a full five-year term. After losing three elections, he returned to power in 2007 and has since maintained the presidency through four consecutive terms, totaling 20 years in office.
The Associated Press noted that Ortega has increased his control over the government by amending the constitution and suppressing opposition. His administration violently repressed large protests in 2018, resulting in hundreds of deaths. In the 2021 elections, he imprisoned all viable opposition candidates and declared victory with 76% of the vote. The U.S. government does not recognize Ortega's presidency.
The New York Times analyzed Ortega's announcement as a sign that Nicaragua will no longer pretend to be a democracy. Felix Maradiaga, who was imprisoned after running in the 2021 elections and later fled to the U.S. in 2023, stated, "Ortega buried Nicaraguan democracy a long time ago," adding that this announcement reveals the complete removal of the mask of legitimacy he tried to wear. The newspaper reported that human rights organizations and the U.N. have documented the Ortega government executing protesters and imprisoning journalists, opposition politicians, critics, and even loyalists.
This public address marked a rare appearance for Ortega, who has largely avoided official events in recent years. The New York Times reported that his wife, Rosario Murillo, who became 'co-president' following a constitutional amendment last year, has been handling external engagements. During the speech, Ortega appeared frail, spending most of the time seated and speaking slowly.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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