Nicaragua’s congress announces ‘work plan’ to suspend elections

Lead

Nicaragua’s congress, controlled by President Daniel Ortega, has announced a “work plan” to implement his directive that the country should no longer hold elections, a move that has drawn strong condemnation from the United Nations and the United States. The announcement, made public on Tuesday, follows Ortega’s speech on Sunday in which he declared, “There won’t be anymore elections.”

The plan, issued by the Ortega-controlled National Assembly, says it is “beginning the necessary analysis to draw up a work plan to implement the president’s directives,” under the pretext of “ensuring peace, security, stability and the continuity of achievements in the fight against poverty,” as reported by The Guardian.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia highlighted Ortega’s announcement as an effective cancellation of Nicaragua’s next elections, originally scheduled for November 2027. The outlet noted that Ortega, in power since 2007, has rewritten the constitution, crushed political opposition, and solidified control over virtually all branches of government. It also reported that at least 46 people are behind bars for political reasons and that Nicaragua has shuttered over 5,000 organizations since 2018.

Al Jazeera focused on the UN rights chief’s condemnation of Nicaragua’s repression, detailing that Ortega’s plan would block elections and shut out the opposition. The outlet also reported that general elections were due in November but were pushed back to 2027 due to constitutional reforms, and that at least 46 people remain arbitrarily detained on political grounds. It additionally cited concerns about the treatment of religious groups, including the detention of Bishop Abelardo Mata Guevara.

The Guardian — World emphasized the congressional “work plan” and the strong international condemnation, noting that the UN and US had both spoken out. The Guardian also reported that Ortega has been in power since 2007 and, after a controversial constitutional change, now governs alongside his wife, Rosario Murillo, as “co-president.” The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, called on the international community to join forces against the regime, which he referred to as the “Murillo-Ortega dictatorship.”

Key Claims

• President Daniel Ortega announced a plan to block elections and shut out the opposition, as reported by multiple sources. The announcement effectively cancels Nicaragua’s next elections, which had been postponed to 2027 following constitutional reforms that extended the presidential term from five to six years.
• At least 46 people remain arbitrarily detained on political grounds, according to multiple reports. ABC Australia noted that at least 46 people are behind bars for political reasons, while Al Jazeera reported the same figure in the context of arbitrary detention.
• Nicaragua has shuttered over 5,000 organizations since 2018, as reported by ABC Australia. This is part of a broader crackdown that has included the violent suppression of protests and the imprisonment of thousands, according to The Guardian.
• The treatment of religious groups is a concern, including the detention of Bishop Abelardo Mata Guevara, as reported by Al Jazeera. This claim was carried by a single outlet.
• Ortega has rewritten the constitution and solidified his control over the government, as reported by multiple sources. The Guardian noted that he has overseen a profound erosion of democracy, marked by violent suppression of protests and the forced exile of nearly 1 million Nicaraguans.
• The UN and the US have strongly condemned the move. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on authorities to “reopen civic space, and restore the rule of law,” and urged that “people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Tuesday, calling for international unity against the regime.

Perspectives

• United Nations: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the escalating crackdown, stating that the latest developments further deepen severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the erosion of the rule of law. He called for the restoration of civic space and the rule of law, emphasizing that people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office.
• United States: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who refers to the government as the “Murillo-Ortega dictatorship,” issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the announcement and calling on the international community to join forces against the regime.
• Nicaraguan government (as reported): President Daniel Ortega defended the move in his Sunday speech, railing against the United States and stating that “parties put in place by the Yankees, put in place by the Somoza regime, coming back to power — that story is over.” The National Assembly’s statement framed the plan as ensuring “peace, security, stability and the continuity of achievements in the fight against poverty.”