The presidential couple gains full power
Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega, and his wife, officially gained full power on Thursday, January 30, 2025, following a constitutional reform approved by the Parliament in November 2024.
This reform extends the presidential term from five to six years. It also establishes a co-presidency between Ortega and his wife, strengthening their control over all of the country’s institutions. Additionally, it removes the last guarantees of independence for the Parliament and the judiciary. This consolidates an authoritarian regime where the executive branch dominates completely. This shift is part of a broader strategy of centralizing power that began with Ortega’s return to power in 2007.
Constitutional reforms to stay in power
Daniel Ortega was first elected president of Nicaragua in 1984. He took office in 1985, after the Sandinista revolution. At that time, the presidential term was five years, with no immediate re-election possibility. In 1990, he lost re-election to Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.
Since 2007, Ortega has remained in power. He became president in 2006 with 37.99% of the vote, made possible by a constitutional reform that lowered the victory threshold to 35%. He secured re-election in 2011 with 62.65% of the vote after a 2009 constitutional change that removed the limit of one consecutive term. Ortega was re-elected again in 2016 and 2021 with 72% and 75% of the votes, respectively. These elections faced widespread criticism, as many opposition figures were either arrested or barred from running. As a consequence, the current Nicaraguan constitution no longer imposes limits on presidential terms.
The November 2024 reform
A reform that came into effect on January 30, 2025, extends the presidential term from five to six years. This ensures that Daniel Ortega and his wife will remain in power until 2028, or beyond. According to the approved text, Rosario Murillo, vice president since 2017, becomes “co-president” alongside her husband. In their desire to increase their control over national institutions, the Ortega couple coordinates the judicial, legislative, and executive branches.
The presidential couple now has the power to nominate vice presidents without public consultation, paving the way for a possible dynastic succession. Indeed, their son, Laureano Ortega, is often mentioned as a potential candidate for vice presidency.
For further information, please consult the following link: Ortega y Murillo alargan un año su periodo presidencial en Nicaragua
Consequences and reactions
These constitutional reforms have been widely criticized by the international community and human rights defenders, who view them as an authoritarian drift and an erosion of democratic freedoms in Nicaragua.
The Regional Office for Central America of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the reform. It highlighted that the reform exacerbates the decline of civil and political freedoms in the country. US lawyer Reed Brody, an expert on Nicaragua within the UN, condemned it as a major violation of the rule of law. He stated that Ortega and Murillo have “consolidated absolute power.” This marks “the end of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Nicaragua.”
Through a series of constitutional reforms, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have consolidated their grip on Nicaragua. They have centralized the executive, legislative, and judicial powers and restructured the government to ensure the longevity of their regime.
