Ortega Seeks Another Year in Power Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Opposition

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:50:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Ortega proposes to extend his presidency by one year amid a crackdown on opposition, raising alarms about Nicaragua's democratic trajectory.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is pushing a constitutionally-based bill that would lengthen his presidency by an additional year, setting the stage for a contentious approval in September. The reform also outfits the regime to block opposition figures labeled as “traitors” from contesting elections, underscoring the deepening authoritarian grip. Since his 2007 return, Ortega has repeatedly altered term limits—first scrapping them in 2014, then extending the term to six years in 2024—and appointed his wife as a de facto co‑president, positioning her to succeed him if the presidency is declared inoperative. These moves sharply contrast with the brutal suppression of dissent and mass arrests of political opponents, prompting criticism from international human rights observers and the United Nations.

Ortega Seeks Another Year in Power Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Opposition

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who has ruled since 2007, is proposing a constitutional amendment that would extend his term in office by an additional year, according to statements from the government-controlled National Assembly. The amendment is expected to be approved in September, according to official sources.

The policy proposal is part of a broader reform package that would also allow the state to disqualify opposition figures considered “traitors” or “coup plotters” from running for office, further tightening the ruling party’s control of the political arena.

Ortega’s rule has proved increasingly dictatorial, with raptures of political opponents, exiling critics, and stripping many of their citizenship rights. During his 19-year tenure the constitution has already been reshaped: the National Assembly removed term limits in 2014, extended the presidential term from five to six years in 2024, and approved the appointment of his wife, Rosario Murillo, as a “co‑president.” This arrangement would enable her to assume the presidency should the current one be declared permanently absent.

The last presidential election in Nicaragua was held in November 2021 and produced a lopsided result that saw Ortega win under an atmosphere of violence and suppression. Numerous opposition candidates were barred, detained, or forced into exile, while widespread arrests of anti‑government activists have continued to grow. UN human‑rights chief Volker Türk has warned of a deepening erosion of the rule of law and a rise in persecution of dissenting voices.

The proposed extension marks yet another step in expanding Ortega’s grip, sparking alarm among civil‑society groups and diplomatic observers about the future of democracy in North America’s Central Pacific region.