Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega aims to bar ‘traitors’ from future elections

Ortega has overseen sweeping crackdown on civil society in Nicaragua and concentrated power in his own hands.Published On 29 Jul 202629 Jul 2026Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega aims to exclude “traitors” and “coup-plotting” opposition members from elections, while also seeking to extend the presidential term from six to seven “renewable” years, according to a draft constitutional reform sent to Congress.Congress President Gustavo Porras previewed the content of the reform on Tuesday, according to several media outlets, though he did not provide many details.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Nicaragua strips lawyers of certification in latest crackdown on dissentlist 2 of 3Ortega insists no more elections for Nicaragualist 3 of 3UN rights chief condemns Nicaragua’s decision to abolish electionsend of listThe proposal is expected to be approved in September. It follows recent statements by the president that there would be no elections in the Central American nation, as a means of preventing the opposition from “seizing the government”.“Our system of government, under the presidency of the people, proposes to be organised with an effective term of seven renewable years,...