Nicaragua legislature debates barring opposition from elections
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Nicaragua's National Assembly is debating a law to bar opposition parties from running in elections, with a vote expected in early August. President Daniel Ortega said on Sunday there would be "no more elections" for the opposition to seize power. The move drew condemnation from the UN and the US.
The Proposed Ban
Nicaragua's government-controlled National Assembly is debating whether to bar opposition parties from running in elections, with a vote scheduled for the first week of August. The move follows President Daniel Ortega's remarks on Sunday that there "will be no more elections for them [the opposition] to try to seize the government, to seize power." The head of the National Assembly, Gustavo Porras, said the body and the electoral authority were discussing how "to not leave even a crack" for the opposition.
International Condemnation
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned Ortega's remarks, stating that "people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the comments laid bare the "true authoritarian nature" of Ortega's rule, adding that Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo had "abandoned even the pretense of popular consent." Porras dismissed the criticism in an interview with a government-aligned news site.
Background of Authoritarianism
Ortega, 80, has been in power since 2007, with his rule becoming increasingly authoritarian. In the 2021 presidential election, Ortega won after a brutal crackdown on the opposition, with potential rivals detained, disqualified, or forced into exile. In November 2025, the National Assembly passed a constitutional reform extending the presidential term to six years and making Murillo "co-president," paving the way for her to assume the presidency if Ortega is declared "permanently absent."
What's Next
The National Assembly is set to vote on the proposed ban in early August. It remains unclear whether any opposition parties will be allowed to participate in the next elections, scheduled for 2027.
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Nicaragua legislature debates barring opposition from elections
