Summary
Nicaragua’s legislature has amended the constitution to give President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, “absolute power,” officially naming her “co-president” and consolidating control over all state branches.
The reform extends presidential terms from five to six years and tightens control over media, the Church, and political opponents.
Critics, including the UN, warn this dismantles democracy and entrenches dictatorship.
The government has already jailed dissidents, exiled critics, and revoked citizenship from opponents, sparking global condemnation.
So dictatorship
Weird that they would extend terms but only by 1 year. If you’re already giving yourself total power and will presumably keep extending the term limits, why not just remove then entirely? Or at least make it 10 years or something?
Because this way they can say, “this will only last a year.” Similar to “dictator on day one only.”
If you’re curious what their official children are up to: https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-04-20/nicaraguas-political-dynasty-heirs-in-a-golden-cage.html
Tldr: the eldest daughter accused her father of sexual abuse and had to run to Costa Rica. The lives of the other 8 adult children + the lives of their families are mostly controlled by the president’s wife.
Sounds like a Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos situation.
If Reed Brody is criticizing Ortega then that is a bad sign I can see the deeper situation, that this is really just hardening the Nicaraguan government against external meddling, which is a BIG thing in Nicaragua. That said, it would be impressive if the Nicaraguan government could find a better way to do that
