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Human rights group calls Nicaragua’s constitutional reforms a ‘usurpation of power’

September 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Nicaragua’s National Assembly, controlled by the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and co-president, Rosario Murillo, “unanimously” approved a constitutional reform barring “traitors to the homeland” (the term the regime uses for its political opposition) from participating in elections. The measure has sparked widespread domestic and international condemnation.

The reform was “unanimously approved in general terms,” Assembly President Gustavo Porras stated on Sept. 1 during a special session held in the city of León, according to the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa.

The reform amends the constitution, which extends the presidential term, as well as those of other high-ranking officials, from six to seven years, with the possibility of renewal.

Ortega has governed Nicaragua for about 30 years: since 2007, and previously, from 1979 to 1990. On July 19, he stated that there would be no further elections in Nicaragua, and on July 31, he proposed the reform — set to take effect in 2027 — that excludes “coup plotters” and “terrorists,” , terms he uses to refer to the political opposition, from participating in elections.

Reforms are a ‘formalization of the…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Евгения Комарова

Жаль, что в Никарагуа всё свелось к тому, чтобы просто запрещать «предателей родины» участвовать в выборах. Ортега уже 30 лет у власти, а теперь ещё и срок продлили до семи лет с переизбранием — и всё это называют реформой. Интересно, что скажут обычные никарагуанцы, которые просто хотят жить спокойно.

Красимира Василева

It's a pity that such "reforms" were reached there as well. Ortega has ruled since 2007, now they are extending the mandate to 7 years with re-election, and on top of that, they are banning "traitors to the country" from running - sounds like a formal closing of the door. I wonder what the ordinary Nicaraguans that Eugenia mentions think.

Olivier Moreau

It’s still sad to see that after 30 years in power, Ortega is still extending his mandate to seven years and blocking the way for all those he describes as “traitors to the country”. It looks more like a slamming door than a real reform. I wonder what ordinary people there really think about it, as Евгения and Красимира already say.