Nicaraguan Congress Passes Ortega-Backed Reform Excluding Opposition From Elections
The measure also extends presidential terms to seven years and delays the next vote until late 2027, deepening criticism from the United States and regional governments.
- On Tuesday, Nicaragua's National Assembly passed a constitutional reform banning opposition parties from elections and extending the presidential term from six to seven years for Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
- In 2024, the ruling party approved a reform that extended presidential terms from five to six years, elevating Murillo to co-president alongside Ortega, the longest-serving leader in the Americas.
- Ortega publicly stated on July 19 that "there won't be any more elections" to prevent the opposition from "seizing the government," while the reform postpones presidential elections until late 2027.
- Brazil, Chile, and Bolivia criticized the move as a democratic setback, while the United States urged international isolation and Panama withdrew its ambassador from Managua.
- Murillo announced on Monday that the amendment requires a second legislative vote starting January 18, following Nicaragua's political crisis since 2018 that left more than 300 people dead.
26 Articles
26 Articles
The initiative, promoted by Daniel Ortega and his wife, co-president Rosario Murillo, also extends the periods of the country's main authorities from six to seven years and must be ratified by a second legislature in order to enter into force.
The text unanimously voted by the National Assembly excludes from elections those who participate in "putschist acts" or "treason of the homeland" or who request foreign "military intervention".
The Nicaraguan Parliament approved at first reading the constitutional reform supported by the co-chairmen Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, which prohibits opposition parties from participating in the elections and extends the mandate from six to seven years... (ANSA)
Nicaraguan Congress passes Ortega-backed reform excluding opposition from elections
Nicaragua's Congress on Tuesday passed a constitutional reform that bans opposition parties from participating in elections and extends the presidential term from six to seven years, an initiative that had previously drawn criticism from the United States and other countries in the region.
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