Rubio condemns Ortega statement on future elections in Nicaragua

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's statement that Nicaragua would not hold elections that could allow the opposition to take power.

Rubio said Ortega's declaration showed what he called the authoritarian nature of Ortega's family rule. He said Nicaraguans had the right to choose their leaders through democratic elections and called on the international community to show Nicaragua's government that it could not expect to maintain business as usual.

Ortega, 80, has been in power since 2007 after elections questioned by the international community. He is widely accused of using harsh measures to crush dissent and remain in power.

Ortega spoke on Sunday at an event in Managua marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution. He said opponents should forget about using elections to take the government and seize power.

Nicaragua had been due to hold general elections in November. Constitutional reforms adopted a year and a half earlier extended the presidential term from five to six years, meaning the elections are now scheduled for 2027.

Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have ruled Nicaragua for almost two decades. They have kept tight control over society since a crackdown on protests in 2018 that left more than 300 people dead, according to the UN.