Key facts
- Nicaragua's Congress passed a constitutional reform on Tuesday.
- The reform bans opposition parties from participating in elections.
- The reform extends the presidential term from six to seven years.
- The reform was initiated by President Daniel Ortega.
- The reform has faced criticism from the United States and other regional countries.
- The reform legalizes human rights violations and suspends civil rights.
- The reform centralizes power in the executive branch and erodes separation of powers.
- The reform replaces the presidency and vice presidency with a 'co-presidency'.
Nicaragua's Congress approved a constitutional reform on Tuesday that prohibits opposition parties from participating in elections and extends the presidential term from six to seven years. The initiative, backed by President Daniel Ortega, has drawn criticism from the United States and other countries in the region.
The reform, which takes effect in early January 2025, legalizes many human rights violations perpetrated by police and paramilitary forces against dissidents and suspends civil rights. It further centralizes power in the executive branch and erodes the separation of powers.
Most significantly, the updated constitution includes changes to electoral laws that abolish the presidency and vice presidency in favor of a two-person "co-presidency." Accordingly, in January 2025, Vice President Rosario Murillo will assume the role of co-president, marking an incremental step toward her eventual accession to power.
Daniel Ortega has been the leader of Nicaragua since 2007, and previously from 1979 to 1990. He has been described as an authoritarian leader, and multiple media outlets and politicians have referred to him and his wife as dictators. In July 2026, Ortega declared an end to elections in Nicaragua.