{"id":99626,"date":"2026-07-22T15:33:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nicaragua-moves-to-abolish-elections-drawing-international-condemnation\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:33:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:33:07","slug":"nicaragua-moves-to-abolish-elections-drawing-international-condemnation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nicaragua-moves-to-abolish-elections-drawing-international-condemnation\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicaragua Moves to Abolish Elections, Drawing International Condemnation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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MEXICO CITY (AP) \u2014 Nicaragua’s lawmakers have announced they will follow through on a directive from President Daniel Ortega to do away with elections in the country, drawing a fresh wave of international criticism on Wednesday.<\/p>

Nicaragua’s congress, which is firmly controlled by Ortega and his wife and co-President Rosario Murillo, released a statement Tuesday announcing the latest changes to the nation’s constitution. The statement claimed the overhaul would guarantee Nicaragua’s “peace, security and stability.”<\/p>

The congressional announcement follows remarks Ortega made over the weekend in which he declared that “there won’t be anymore elections.” The statement reflects his push to extend his nearly two-decade grip on power while eliminating any possibility of the opposition gaining a foothold.<\/p>

Ortega’s comments came during a Sunday speech marking the anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, effectively canceling what had been Nicaragua’s next scheduled election. That vote had been set for November 2027, following a January 2025 decision by the government-controlled congress to extend the five-year presidential term by one additional year.<\/p>

Under Ortega’s leadership, the government launched a broad crackdown on dissent after violently putting down protests in 2018. Opposition politicians, religious leaders, and other citizens have been imprisoned, and thousands of civil society organizations have been forced to shut down.<\/p>

The congress has repeatedly rewritten the country’s constitution to consolidate Ortega’s authority and strip away any remaining democratic independence or space for dissent.<\/p>

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T\u00fcrk issued a strong condemnation of the developments on Wednesday, stating that “people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office.”<\/p>

“These latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law,” T\u00fcrk said in a written statement.<\/p>

Nicaragua’s government offered no real response to the criticism, issuing only a brief statement that read: “Thank you for your interest.”<\/p>

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighed in on Tuesday, saying the move by Ortega and Murillo to eliminate elections “lays bare their true authoritarian nature.”<\/p>

“The United States calls on the international community to join forces to demonstrate to the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship that it cannot expect to maintain business as usual with other nations when it is thwarting the basic tenets of our democratic hemisphere,” Rubio wrote.<\/p>

Despite strong rhetoric, sanctions, and repeated criticism, the Trump administration has taken few significant actions against Nicaragua’s government. Meanwhile, in nearby El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele \u2014 an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump \u2014 has similarly rolled back democratic checks and targeted critics, yet the U.S. administration has largely offered praise for that leader.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nicaragua’s congress announced plans to follow through on President Daniel Ortega’s order to eliminate elections in the Central American nation. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations and the United States, with global leaders calling it a clear sign of authoritarian rule. Ortega’s government dismissed the international backlash with a brief statement offering no substantive response.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":99625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784748786821.jpg?fit=1000%2C665&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-pUS","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":98485,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nicaraguas-ortega-declares-end-to-elections-cementing-decades-of-rule\/","url_meta":{"origin":99626,"position":0},"title":"Nicaragua’s Ortega Declares End to Elections, Cementing Decades of Rule","author":"Admin","date":"July 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced that his country will no longer hold elections, dealing a blow to opposition hopes for democratic reform. The declaration effectively cancels elections that had been scheduled for November 2027. Critics and rights groups say the move marks a dangerous escalation in Ortega's consolidation of power.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784590369136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784590369136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784590369136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784590369136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":99439,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/un-human-rights-chief-slams-nicaraguas-plan-to-abolish-elections\/","url_meta":{"origin":99626,"position":1},"title":"UN Human Rights Chief Slams Nicaragua’s Plan to Abolish Elections","author":"Admin","date":"July 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The top United Nations human rights official has strongly criticized Nicaragua's decision to eliminate elections, calling it a dangerous step backward for civil and political freedoms. President Daniel Ortega announced Sunday that the Central American nation will no longer hold elections, removing any possibility of a democratic challenge when his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784724355489.jpg?fit=450%2C292&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":53281,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/treasury-department-targets-nicaragua-leaders-sons-with-new-sanctions\/","url_meta":{"origin":99626,"position":2},"title":"Treasury Department Targets Nicaragua Leaders’ Sons with New Sanctions","author":"Admin","date":"April 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions Thursday on two sons of Nicaragua's ruling couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. The sanctions also target officials and companies connected to Nicaragua's gold mining sector for supporting what officials call a repressive regime.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776375565867.jpg?fit=1000%2C719&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776375565867.jpg?fit=1000%2C719&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776375565867.jpg?fit=1000%2C719&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776375565867.jpg?fit=1000%2C719&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":99576,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/your-morning-coffee-could-cost-more-if-u-s-acts-against-nicaragua\/","url_meta":{"origin":99626,"position":3},"title":"Your Morning Coffee Could Cost More If U.S. Acts Against Nicaragua","author":"Admin","date":"July 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"American coffee drinkers, already facing decade-high prices, may see costs climb even further if Washington imposes trade restrictions on Nicaragua following that country's decision to eliminate elections. Nicaragua is one of the top suppliers of coffee to the U.S. market, which purchases about 35% of all Nicaraguan coffee exports. Traders\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Business"","block_context":{"text":"Business","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784740578515.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":78464,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/us-bans-travel-for-over-100-nicaraguan-officials-following-activists-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":99626,"position":4},"title":"US Bans Travel for Over 100 Nicaraguan Officials Following Activist’s Death","author":"Admin","date":"June 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The United States imposed travel restrictions on more than 100 Nicaraguan government officials and their relatives following the death of imprisoned activist Brooklyn Rivera. The sanctions are part of ongoing efforts to pressure Nicaragua's leadership over human rights violations.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780940505066.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780940505066.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780940505066.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780940505066.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":93994,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nicaragua-revokes-lawyers-licenses-in-sweeping-crackdown-on-dissent\/","url_meta":{"origin":99626,"position":5},"title":"Nicaragua Revokes Lawyers’ Licenses in Sweeping Crackdown on Dissent","author":"Admin","date":"July 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Nicaragua's government has quietly removed large numbers of lawyers from the country's official legal registry, drawing condemnation from a United Nations expert who called it a purge of the legal profession. The move is the latest in a years-long campaign by the ruling husband-and-wife co-presidents to eliminate opposition and independent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719177999.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719177999.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719177999.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719177999.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99626\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}