President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua has announced that the country will no longer hold elections. The 80-year-old leader, who has been in office since 2007, stated that this move is intended to prevent the opposition from coming to power and to block them from challenging his rule.
This decision eliminates the possibility of an electoral challenge when Ortega's term ends next year, further entrenching the rule he shares with his wife. Ortega intends to work with the congress he controls to pass new laws that would build a wall against the opposition as part of an effort to extend his nearly 20-year rule.
The announcement follows accusations that Ortega rigged recent elections. In the 2021 election, the authoritarian leader declared himself the winner after jailing all the candidates who could have beaten him.