All articles tagged with #daniel ortega
Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega said at a rally that the country is moving toward not holding a presidential election next year, as he tightens his grip on power with co-president Rosario Murillo and constitutional reforms that extend terms. The announcement follows years of crackdowns on opponents and a disputed 2021 vote, drawing strong condemnation from the United States and others who say the regime is eroding democracy and human rights.
At a rally marking the Sandinista Revolution, Daniel Ortega declared that Nicaragua will never again hold elections, even though a 2025 constitutional reform extended the presidential term and the next vote is now slated for 2027. He accused opposition groups—many exiled or jailed—of trying to seize power with U.S. backing, announced new laws to block them, and asserted that the era of foreign-installed governments is over, as international pressure for a political transition persists.
Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega announced there will be no future elections, solidifying a two-decade grip on power with his wife Rosario Murillo as co-president after constitutional reforms; critics describe the move as a dynastic, one-party dictatorship, with opposition leaders exiled or jailed and the 2021 vote widely disputed.
President Daniel Ortega announced there will be no more elections in Nicaragua, arguing the US-backed opposition cannot seize power; the statement follows a disputed 2021 vote, a six-year term with Rosario Murillo as co-president, and years of repression critics say have crushed dissent, drawing international human rights scrutiny.
Daniel Ortega announced there will be no more elections in Nicaragua and said he would work with the National Assembly to pass laws to build a wall against the opposition, a move critics describe as a transition to a family dictatorship amid past crackdown on dissent, jailed opponents, and civil-society restrictions.
The crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua by President Daniel Ortega's government has led to the expulsion of priests, harassment, church desecrations, and fear among the faithful. The pervasive fear has silenced criticism of the authoritarian government, with priests and laypeople fearing reprisals for speaking out. The government's targeting of the church is seen as an attempt to quash opposition and silence a respected voice in the country. The repression has deeply affected both the spiritual and material aspects of the population, with significant gaps in social services and restrictions on religious practices. Despite ongoing fear, many faithful continue to attend church services, while exiled activists and clergy call for continued international attention and protest against the repression.
Nicaraguan authorities have detained four more priests, escalating the government's crackdown on the Catholic Church and dissent. This recent action increases the total number of clergy arrested to 12 in just three days. President Daniel Ortega's regime has been targeting the Church and its members since the 2018 protests, where some priests were accused of supporting opposition activities. The government has not commented on the arrests, which include influential figures such as Monsignor Miguel Mantica and priests who sheltered students during the 2018 government attacks.
Nicaraguan police have arrested three more Catholic priests, increasing the total detained this week to at least nine, amid a broader crackdown on the Church by President Daniel Ortega's government. The arrests include critics of Ortega, such as Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who was sentenced to 26 years for treason earlier this year. The government has not provided reasons for the recent arrests, which follow a history of accusing church leaders of subversion since protests in 2018. The crackdown has intensified after Pope Francis labeled Ortega's government a "gross dictatorship," leading to severed ties with the Vatican.
The Nicaraguan government, led by President Daniel Ortega, is targeting the Miss Universe franchise and its operators, accusing them of conspiring against the nation. This comes after a Nicaraguan beauty queen, Sheynnis Palacios, won the Miss Universe pageant and became a symbol of national pride and a longing for change. The government's attack on the franchise is seen as a sign of paranoia from a regime that has suppressed opposition, jailed or deported opposition leaders, and imprisoned Catholic bishops and priests. The government's control over social and political life has intensified in recent years, but it remains to be seen if it can control a beauty queen.
The director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, has been charged by Nicaraguan police with rigging contests to ensure that anti-government beauty queens would win as part of a plot to overthrow the government. The charges come after Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, won the Miss Universe competition and it was revealed that she had participated in anti-government protests in 2018. The government of President Daniel Ortega has cracked down on opposition, closing universities and civic groups, arresting and expelling opponents, and confiscating their assets. Celebertti has reportedly evaded arrest, while her husband and son have been taken into custody.
Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and his government have been profiting from the influx of vulnerable Haitian migrants who use the country as a transit point to reach the United States. The regime charges exorbitant entry fees of $150-$200 per migrant, generating millions of dollars each month. Additionally, the government imposes steep landing fees on charter flights from Haiti, amounting to $2,000-$3,000 per flight. The departure tax on these flights further adds to the regime's revenue. The United States has expressed concern about the increase in charter flights and warned Haitians about the dangers and uncertainties of the journey. Experts argue that Ortega and his government are intentionally facilitating this migration crisis to attack the United States.
A journalist with Nicaraguan roots recounts his return to Nicaragua, a country steeped in fear under President Daniel Ortega's regime. The government has made it nearly impossible for foreign journalists to enter the country, and local journalists face threats and attacks. The Nicaraguan government has gradually closed the space for journalism, buying TV stations, imprisoning journalists, and confiscating equipment. Despite the risks, the journalist decided to visit Nicaragua and witness the changes firsthand, guided by his mother's encouragement to "run toward it." The country has become one of the most dangerous places for journalists, with limited press freedom and a climate of fear.
Nicaragua, one of the most authoritarian countries in the Western Hemisphere, has shut out foreign journalists for over a year. NPR's Eyder Peralta managed to enter the country and provides exclusive on-the-ground reporting. President Daniel Ortega, who came to power in 2007, responded violently to protests in 2018, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of protesters and the imprisonment of opponents. Ortega has since changed electoral laws, captured the judiciary, and suppressed civil society. The international community has been unable to effectively combat Ortega's rule, setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian leaders in the region.
Nicaraguan police are investigating several dioceses of the Catholic Church for money laundering, and have frozen the bank accounts of parishes in the country. The government of President Daniel Ortega has intensified attacks against the Catholic Church since 2018 anti-government protests, accusing the bishops of attempting a coup. The police statement said the bank accounts were linked to religious figures convicted of treason and other crimes, and that the investigations confirmed the funds entered the country irregularly.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega downplayed the impact of US sanctions on officials of their two nations during Lavrov's visit to Nicaragua. Lavrov hailed Nicaragua as an ally against the US-led coalition seeking to turn back Russia's invasion. Ortega said that they are no longer afraid of US sanctions and spoke with Lavrov about "the efforts being made by the Russian Federation, by President Putin, to seek peace with security." Russia is an important ally of Nicaragua, providing it with wheat, vehicles, and its Sputnik vaccine against Covid-19.