Nicaragua Congress Backs Ban on Opposition Parties

Nicaragua’s Congress on Tuesday approved in a first vote a constitutional reform backed by co-presidents Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. The amendment would bar opposition parties from participating in elections and extend the terms of the co-presidents, other elected officials and the heads of the army and police from six to seven years.

The reform is due to be ratified in a second vote beginning on 18 January, as constitutional changes must be approved in two separate legislative sessions before taking effect.

The measure follows Ortega’s statement in July that there would be no more elections in Nicaragua in order to prevent the opposition from taking power again.

The announcement drew sharp criticism from the United States and several governments in the region, which described it as another setback for democracy. Panama withdrew its ambassador from Managua.

The latest reform follows constitutional changes approved in 2024 that extended the presidential term from five to six years, elevated Murillo from vice president to co-president and postponed presidential elections until late 2027.

Nicaragua has been in a deep political crisis since the government violently suppressed anti-government protests in 2018.

(Reuters, max)