Friday, July 31st 2026 - 22:43 UTC
Daniel Ortega said on July 19, at the ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, that there would be no more elections in the country
Nicaragua's National Assembly this week opened consultations on a constitutional reform bill that would extend the presidential term from six to seven years on a renewable basis and impose restrictions on the participation of the government's opponents. The text is due to be voted in early September.
The reform requires approval in two legislatures, meaning ratification would come in the first half of 2027. It is the second constitutional change in 18 months: the February 2025 amendment had already extended the term from five to six years, created the post of co-president for Rosario Murillo and reshaped the structure of the state, changes criticized by the UN, the OAS, the United States, the European Parliament and the opposition. That reform pushed general elections scheduled for November 2026 to November 2027.
The scope of the initiative is subject to opposing readings. Daniel Ortega said on July 19, at the ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, that there would be no more elections in the country, and announced laws to put up a wall against those he calls coup plotters. Parliament Speaker Gustavo Porras subsequently maintained that elections will be held, though under a constitutional framework shielding them from foreign interference. The full text of the bill has not been released.
