Nicaragua's government-controlled National Assembly is currently debating a controversial legislative proposal that could effectively bar opposition parties from participating in future elections. The move comes just days after President Daniel Ortega, 80, publicly stated there would be 'no more elections for them [the opposition] to try to seize the government, to seize power'. A vote on the matter is anticipated in the first week of August 2026, which, if passed, would formalise a significant tightening of the country's political landscape.
President Ortega's remarks were made during a speech marking the anniversary of the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which he accused the opposition of being financed by the US and of 'conspiring, trying to organise parties to try and win an election'. He indicated that new laws would be enacted to 'create a wall, to block the coup mongers', ensuring that external funding would not enable them to gain power. This latest development follows a pattern of increasing authoritarianism under Ortega's rule, which began in 2007, marked by the jailing, exile, and stripping of citizenship of political opponents.
The international community has quickly condemned Ortega's statements and the proposed legislation. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed that 'people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office'. Similarly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticised the comments, stating they revealed the 'true authoritarian nature' of Ortega's government and demonstrated that he and his wife, Rosario Murillo – whom Ortega named 'co-president' in February 2025 – had 'abandoned even the pretense of popular consent'.
However, the head of Nicaragua's National Assembly, Gustavo Porras, dismissed these criticisms, telling a government-aligned news site that the legislative body and the country's highest electoral authority were working to 'not leave even a crack' for the opposition to gain influence. This mirrors actions taken in the November 2021 presidential elections, where potential rival candidates were detained or disqualified, leading to a largely one-sided contest won by Ortega.
The current debate also builds on recent constitutional changes. In November 2025, the National Assembly unanimously passed a reform extending the presidential term to six years and establishing Rosario Murillo as 'co-president'. This change is widely seen as a mechanism to ensure continuity of power should Ortega, whose health is reportedly frail, become unable to govern. Nicaraguan opposition figures in exile have voiced strong concerns, with Juan Sebastián Chamorro describing the move as evidence of Ortega's ambition to turn Nicaragua into a 'one-party country like China, North Korea, and Cuba'.