Archive · 21 Jul 2026
Ortega Declares Nicaragua Will Abolish Elections
Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua, said that his country will no longer have elections.
He has been in power since 2007 and recently made his wife the co-president.
Ortega believes this will stop other groups from trying to take control.
However, many people, including the United Nations, say this is not fair and that Ortega is making Nicaragua more like a dictatorship.
There have been protests against Ortega's government, and many people have been hurt or killed.
Ortega says he is doing this to keep Nicaragua safe, but others disagree and think it is wrong.
Daniel Ortega announced Nicaragua will no longer hold elections, eliminating future electoral challenges.
Ortega has been in power since 2007 and recently named his wife Rosario Murillo as co-president.
The 2021 election was widely disputed due to the detention of opponents and criminalization of dissent.
Ortega's government has been accused by the U.N. Human Rights Council of transforming Nicaragua into an authoritarian state.
Nicaragua has been in a severe political crisis since April 2018, with over 300 people killed in a government crackdown.
- Who
- Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, and his wife Rosario Murillo, co-president.
- What
- Ortega announced that Nicaragua will no longer hold elections, consolidating his power.
- When
- The announcement was made on Sunday evening, July 20, 2024.
- Where
- The announcement was made during a speech in Nicaragua.
- Why
- Ortega claims the move is to prevent foreign interference and maintain stability, while the opposition and international community view it as a step towards authoritarianism.
Ortega's Government
International Community and Opposition
Legitimacy of Power
Ortega's Government
Ortega claims his actions are necessary to prevent foreign interference and maintain stability.
International Community and Opposition
The international community and opposition argue that the move is a step towards authoritarianism and violates democratic principles.
Human Rights
Ortega's Government
Ortega's government maintains that its actions are for the country's security and sovereignty.
International Community and Opposition
The U.N. Human Rights Council accuses Ortega's government of systematic human rights violations and transforming Nicaragua into an authoritarian state.
- President
- Daniel Ortega
- Co-president
- Rosario Murillo (wife of Daniel Ortega)
- Last Election
- 2021 (widely disputed)
- Political Crisis Started
- April 2018
- Deaths in Crackdown
- More than 300
- Presidential Term Extension
- Six years
