Additional Coverage:
- State Department rips revolutionary socialist Nicaraguan regime as far-left leader ends country’s elections (foxnews.com)
Nicaragua’s co-president Daniel Ortega is facing sharp criticism from the U.S. State Department after announcing that his government will no longer hold elections in the Central American nation. Ortega, who has ruled Nicaragua alongside his wife Rosario Murillo for nearly two decades, declared that future elections will be canceled to prevent opposition parties from seizing power.
In a strong rebuke issued Tuesday, the State Department condemned Ortega’s move as an open display of authoritarianism. Officials stated that Ortega and Murillo “have abandoned even the pretense of popular consent,” and warned that their continued repression and human rights abuses threaten regional stability and U.S. national security interests. A spokesperson described the regime as “an enemy of humanity.”
Ortega, now 80, made the announcement Monday, characterizing elections as attempts by opposition forces to “seize the government.” He vowed that the days of parties supported by foreign interests, including the U.S.-backed Somoza dictatorship’s followers, returning to power are over.
Ortega’s political journey began as a Sandinista revolutionary leader who helped overthrow the Somoza family dictatorship in 1979. His government aligned with Cuba and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, nationalizing key industries.
He initially led the country until 1990, when he was voted out of office, but returned to power in 2007 and has since consolidated authority. In 2025, Nicaragua’s constitution was amended to create the position of co-president, which Ortega granted to his wife Murillo, who now regularly addresses the nation.
The couple’s family holds several influential government roles. Their children occupy prominent positions in communications, media, culture, and international relations, further solidifying the Ortega-Murillo political dynasty.
The State Department called on the international community to unite in opposing Ortega’s dictatorship and to support the Nicaraguan people’s right to democratic elections. The U.S. warned that Nicaragua should not expect normal diplomatic or economic relations while it undermines democratic principles.
This latest development marks a deepening of Ortega’s authoritarian grip on Nicaragua, raising concerns about the country’s future and its impact on regional stability.