Ortega says Nicaragua will not hold elections that let opponents take power

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Sunday that opponents should not expect elections that could allow them to take office, as he spoke at an event in Managua marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution.

Ortega, 80, has been in power since 2007 after elections questioned by the international community. He said Nicaragua would not hold elections so opponents could “grab the government and seize power.” He accused his opponents of plotting, trying to organize parties for an election they believe will happen, and being put in place by the United States.

Nicaragua had been due to hold general elections in November. Constitutional reforms approved about a year and a half ago extended the presidential term from five years to six years, moving the scheduled elections to 2027.

Opposition movements in exile hope international pressure will restore elections in Nicaragua. Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have ruled the country for nearly two decades. They have kept a tight grip on society since a crackdown on protests in 2018 left more than 300 people dead, according to the UN.

Ortega was a Marxist in his youth and led a revolution against a US-backed autocrat. He is widely accused of using harsh measures to suppress dissent and stay in power in Nicaragua.