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Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced that the country will no longer hold elections, a declaration that effectively shuts down any remaining path for political opposition to challenge the government he leads alongside his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Ortega, Nicaragua’s longest‑serving leader, has held power continuously since 2007 after previously governing during the 1980s. His current term runs through 2027.

“There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,” Ortega said during a speech marking the anniversary of the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which he helped overthrow the U.S.-backed Somoza dictatorship.

The announcement signals a further consolidation of authority as Ortega and Murillo tighten control over the country’s political institutions. Ortega added that the era of parties “backed by the Yankees” returning to power was “over — never again.”

Fox News Digital reported it reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment.

U.S. Response and International Pressure

The Trump administration previously labeled the Ortega‑Murillo government a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on officials and allies. The State Department has also issued visa restrictions affecting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and family members.

“The United States stands with the Nicaraguan people who… aspire to see a free Nicaragua,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in June.

The Biden administration has also criticized Ortega, saying he illegitimately secured another term following Nicaragua’s disputed 2021 election. Ahead of that vote, authorities arrested presidential contenders, opposition leaders, business figures, and journalists as dissent became increasingly criminalized.

Sweeping Constitutional Changes

Ortega and Murillo expanded their power through constitutional reforms that took effect in 2025. The changes:

extended the presidential term from five to six years
elevated Murillo from vice president to “co‑president”
placed legislative, judicial, and electoral institutions under presidential authority

United Nations experts say the reforms have effectively centralized control over nearly every branch of government, including the military, police, and judiciary.

Opposition Silenced

Meaningful electoral competition had already eroded during the 2011, 2016, and 2021 elections, according to Salvador Marenco of the Costa Rica‑based Nicaragua Nunca Más Human Rights Collective. Many opposition leaders have been imprisoned, exiled, or stripped of citizenship, while political parties and civic organizations have lost legal status.

A U.N. group of experts has accused the Ortega‑Murillo government of systematically violating human rights to eliminate criticism and maintain power. Some alleged abuses may constitute crimes against humanity.

Violent Crackdown

The government’s violent response to anti‑government protests in 2018 left more than 300 people dead, according to international human rights organizations. The crackdown marked a turning point in Nicaragua’s slide toward authoritarian rule.

source: Nicaragua’s Ortega says country will ‘never again’ hold elections, shutting out opposition