Nicaragua’s president says country will not hold any more elections

[Dr Strangelove]

Daniel Ortega, the 80-year-old authoritarian leader, says move will ‘build a wall’ against the opposition
Ortega announced the end of elections during a July 2026 speech marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution.

He stated: “There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power.”

The next election had been scheduled for 2027, but Ortega said opponents should “forget about it.”

Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, already control nearly all state institutions; Murillo was elevated to co‑president and presidential terms extended to six years.

What this means politically
The announcement eliminates any remaining path for opposition parties to challenge the regime.

Analysts say Ortega and Murillo are acting out of fear that even a small political opening could threaten their grip on power.

Human rights bodies, including the UN Human Rights Council, accuse the government of arbitrary detentions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and persecution of civil society and media.

International reaction
The United States condemned the declaration, calling the Ortega–Murillo government a dictatorship and warning that Nicaragua cannot expect normal relations while abandoning democratic principles.

Rights groups and exiled opposition figures say this confirms Nicaragua has become a one‑party authoritarian state similar to Cuba or China.