U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling on nations around the world to isolate Nicaragua, following a pledge by President Daniel Ortega that his government will put an end to elections in the country.
Rubio stated that Ortega’s announcement “lays bare their true authoritarian nature” and warned that Nicaragua should not expect “business as usual” from other countries while turning its back on democratic governance.
Rubio also said that Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo “have abandoned even the pretense of popular consent,” signaling a complete break from any democratic norms.
In a separate statement, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs called on “hemispheric partners” to stand alongside the United States “in working to ensure the Nicaraguan people may finally choose a future free from tyranny.”
Ortega made the announcement during a speech on Sunday, framing the move as a way to prevent U.S.-backed movements from gaining control of the government. “There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,” Ortega declared.
The 80-year-old leader has held power without interruption since 2007. Under constitutional changes enacted last year, his wife was named co-president, and the presidential term was extended to six years.
Over recent years, Ortega has effectively eliminated nearly all political opposition within the Central American nation, imprisoning critics and forcing politicians to flee the country into exile.
