The United States has condemned Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's announcement that elections will no longer be held in the country. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Tuesday denouncing the move, calling it proof of the Ortega family's authoritarian rule. Rubio specifically referenced Ortega's Sunday declaration during a speech marking the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which he stated Nicaragua would not hold future elections. The U.S. secretary of state described the decision as a rejection of democratic principles and accused Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, of abandoning any pretense of popular consent. He urged the international community to respond by refusing to maintain normal relations with the Nicaraguan government.
Ortega, who has served as president since 2007, extended his term to six years and appointed Murillo as co-president in 2025. His administration has previously faced international criticism, including over the 2018 anti-government protests that resulted in more than 300 deaths. The 2021 election was also widely criticized, with reports of opposition members being detained and suppressed. Rubio emphasized that the Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their leaders through democratic processes. His statement framed the election ban as part of a broader pattern of democratic erosion under Ortega's leadership.
Daniel Ortega declared an end to elections while maintaining his and Rosario Murillo's hold on power, a move the U.S. says exposes their authoritarian rule. This eliminates any electoral path for Nicaraguans to change leadership, leaving no formal mechanism for political transition under the current government. The absence of future elections means the population cannot exercise political choice unless external pressure or internal action forces a reversal.
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