Nicaragua’s Congress has passed controversial constitutional reforms allowing President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo to take unprecedented control of the Central American nation, effectively enshrining their family’s power as they assume the roles of ‘co-presidents’.
This significant amendment, ratified on January 31, 2025, expands the presidential term from five to six years, coupling it with sweeping new powers for both Ortega and Murillo. Observers see this move as part of Ortega's continued effort to solidify his grip on power, which has drawn sharp rebuke from international human rights advocates and local critics.
Since their return to power following Ortega's previous presidency (1985-1990), he and Murillo have been accused of steering Nicaragua toward authoritarianism. The Sandinista party’s dominance over the Congress meant the reforms faced little resistance. Supporters, including Ortega’s allies, argue the reforms are necessary to support their vision of deepening the country’s revolution.
During the announcement of the reforms, Murillo claimed they would “strengthen the model of people’s President, the model of direct democracy.” Nevertheless, critics such as human rights lawyer Reed Brody have countered this assertion, stating the reforms effectively mark the “death knell for the rule of law and basic freedoms” within Nicaragua.
The changes grant the presidency powers to direct judicial and legislative functions, raise the possibility of the military intervening to support police forces, and allow for unchecked appointments of vice presidents by either co-president. This shift means Murillo will automatically become the president if Ortega dies, circumventing the need for new elections—an alarming prospect for many observers who see this as deepening the potential for dynastic succession.
Also, the reforms are reported to systematize repression under the guise of legal authority. Ortega's administration has been infamous for its brutal crackdown on dissent since the opposition protests of 2018, which resulted in at least 355 deaths and led to thousands of arrests. Critics argue the latest changes are simply legitimizing tactics previously deployed to silence opposition voices.
The international community has responded with growing concern. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed its alarm about the concentration of power and the severe restrictions on freedom of expression created by these reforms. Under the new regulations, those labeled as “traitors” can be stripped of citizenship, reflecting the regime's previous actions against critics, including journalists and dissidents.
Ortega and Murillo’s leadership has seen the shuttering of over 5,000 NGOs since the violent suppression of protests erupted, and their combined efforts have resulted in the exile of countless opposition figures, stripping them of both their citizenship and property. “These grotesque changes sound the death knell for the rule of law and basic freedoms,” Brody asserted.
Celebrations from Ortega’s allies contrasted sharply with the despair felt by many civil society groups and human rights organizations. Critics describe the reforms as the culmination of years of disintegration of democratic practices, which included systematic purging of dissenting voices from the public sphere.
The legislative overhaul marks what many believe is the solidification of Ortega’s familial dynasty within Nicaraguan politics. With both Ortega and Murillo now granted constitutional authority to coordinate not just executive functions but also legislative and judicial matters, the separation of powers, once championed under previous leadership, has been effectively dismantled. These powers extend to guiding electoral processes as well, presenting new challenges for the country’s political future.
Opposition voices highlight the detrimental consequences such reforms present for Nicaragua’s democratic fabric. They argue retrogressive changes mark the beginning of the end for whatever limited democratic processes remained, leading the nation ever closer to dictatorship.
Indeed, Ortega's administration has faced scrutiny for its heavy-handed tactics to contain dissent. A plausible future scenario involves Ortega's children taking prominent roles within the government, thanks to the newly expanded provision of appointing limited vice presidents. Observers suspect this is part of the mechanism established for hereditary succession within the current regime.
The constitutional reform is anticipated to lead to more extensive state control over media, tightening restrictions on political freedoms, and amplifying the already severe repression experienced by opposition figures. This atmosphere has made it increasingly challenging for independent and opposition outlets to operate without fear of reprisal.
Advocates for human rights continue to rally against the constitutional changes, declaring them unconstitutional and urging international entities to respond to these authoritarian advancements effectively. “The reforms are not merely legal adjustments; they are tools for systemic oppression,” remarked another critic.
Only time will reveal the full impact of these unprecedented reforms on Nicaragua’s citizens who continue to endure the oppressive grip of Ortega and Murillo. The global community watches with bated breath, aware of the fragile state of democracy on the ground and the real consequences these legislative changes impose on Nicaraguan society.
Reports of protests and calls for action have begun to emerge again as civil society groups organize against the developments. A pivotal question remains: can resistance against such authoritarian consolidation be sustained, or will Nicaraguans face increased repression? The world waits to see what moves will follow this monumental shift.