Home World Live International Crisis Nicaragua appoints Daniel Ortega and his spouse Murillo as ‘co-presidents,’ prompting backlash against democracy.

Nicaragua appoints Daniel Ortega and his spouse Murillo as ‘co-presidents,’ prompting backlash against democracy.

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MEXICO CITY — On Thursday, Nicaragua’s legislative body passed a constitutional amendment that designates President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, who serves as Vice President, as “copresidents” of the country, further entrenching their family’s dominance in governance.

The reform also extends the length of presidential terms from five to six years, an action that underscores the consolidation of power within the Ortega-Murillo family.

The initiative was initially proposed in November, and with the Sandinista party having control over the Congress and all major government institutions, its approval was largely anticipated.

Observers indicate that this newly ratified constitution represents another step toward ensuring a seamless succession plan for Murillo and their family, effectively dismantling the last remnants of power checks that have been eroded over years of undemocratic governance. Murillo had already been exercising considerable influence over state affairs before this legislation.

In a statement released via state media’s Instagram account, Murillo characterized the reform as a measure that “reinforces the model of people’s President, the model of direct democracy.”

These legislative moves come in the context of a growing crackdown by the Ortega administration following widespread social unrest in 2018, which the government violently suppressed.

Nicaragua’s regime has systematically targeted dissenters, including political opponents, clergy, and journalists, many of whom have been imprisoned or forced into exile, in addition to stripping hundreds of their citizenship and assets. Since the unrest began, over 5,000 organizations, predominantly religious, have been closed, pushing thousands to leave the country to seek safety.

The recent constitutional changes have already sparked renewed criticism against the government, with Reed Brody, an American human rights lawyer and member of a UN expert group on Nicaragua, denouncing the reforms as a blatant expansion of the family’s control.

He described the reforms as a significant setback for both the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, asserting that they mark a troubling decline in democratic principles for the nation.