Nicaragua Approves Reform Barring Opposition From Elections
The amendment also extends terms to seven years and delays presidential elections until late 2027, drawing criticism from the United States and regional governments.
- On Tuesday, Nicaragua's National Assembly passed a constitutional reform backed by co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, banning opposition parties from elections and extending presidential terms to seven years.
- Ortega publicly stated on July 19 that "there won't be any more elections" in Nicaragua to prevent the opposition from "seizing the government" again, framing the legislative action as protective.
- The approved measure also extends terms for co-presidents, other elected officials, and heads of the army and police from six to seven years, while postponing presidential elections until late 2027.
- Several countries including the United States, Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile criticized the move, while Panama withdrew its ambassador from Managua; a required second legislative vote begins January 18.
- Nicaragua remains in a deep political crisis dating back to April 2018, when government repression of anti-government protests left more than 300 dead, marking instability for the Americas' longest-serving leader, Ortega.
86 Articles
86 Articles
The new regulation expands the presidential mandate and leaves out of the elections those the regime considers “traitors to the homeland”; Washington anticipates measures in the OAS
(Mexico City = Yonhap News) Correspondent Song Gwang-ho = The Nicaraguan Congress has passed a constitutional amendment bill that restricts the opposition's participation in elections and extends the president's term...
Article 47 of the amendment, which was unanimously approved, states that "traitors to the homeland" may not be candidates for elected office or hold public office.It is the term that the dictatorship has applied to at least 452 denationalized opponents or critics, including writers Sergio Ramírez and Gioconda Belli.
Opponents will be excluded from the elections in Nicaragua, after passing reform that prohibits them from participating.
Nicaragua approves banning opposition from elections
Nicaragua’s lawmakers approved a constitutional reform restricting opposition participation in elections, Nicaraguan National Assembly leader Gustavo Porras said on Tuesday.The new amendment extends presidential terms to seven years from six and bans any member of the opposition involved in planning
The constitutional norm to be ratified in January also extends the terms of Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo to seven years.
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