Nicaragua's Constitutional Reform: A Move Toward Autocracy
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has introduced a controversial constitutional reform that significantly expands his power and that of his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, by designating them as co-presidents. This reform, submitted to the National Assembly, which is dominated by Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), seeks to extend the presidential term from five to six years and imposes stringent restrictions on the media. The proposed changes are expected to pass swiftly through the legislature, as indicated by pro-government sources.
Ortega, who has been in power since 2007, faces accusations from the United States, the European Union, and various Latin American nations of establishing an autocratic regime. The reform aims to consolidate control over the legislative, judicial, and electoral bodies, undermining the independence of these institutions. Critics, including the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, have condemned the proposal as an institutionalization of a
cohabitation dictatorship
and a direct assault on democratic governance.
Implications of the Reform
The constitutional changes, which include the creation of the roles of co-president and co-presidentess, allow Ortega and Murillo to govern jointly and appoint their son, Laureano Ortega Murillo, as a potential successor. This dynastic succession raises concerns about the future of democracy in Nicaragua, as the reform effectively eliminates checks and balances within the government. Legal experts have described the co-presidential arrangement as unprecedented and lacking a clear definition of responsibilities.
The reform also includes provisions that strip Nicaraguan nationality from those deemed
traitors to the homeland
and further restricts the media by ensuring they are not influenced by foreign interests. The government plans to establish a
volunteer police force
to assist the National Police, a move reminiscent of the violent repression witnessed during the 2018 protests against Ortega's regime. This proposed auxiliary force raises alarms about potential abuses of power and the continuation of state-sponsored violence against dissenters.
In summary, Ortega's constitutional reform represents a significant step toward entrenching autocratic rule in Nicaragua, consolidating power within the presidential couple, and undermining the democratic framework that remains in the country.
