Nicaragua Abolishes Elections Amid Criticism

Nicaragua's government is abolishing elections in what observers

describe as a sort of nail in the coffin for the Central American nation's

democracy.

No volverán a haber elecciones.

No volverán a haber elecciones

para que por ahí intenten ellos

atrapar el gobierno, atrapar el poder.

The move prompted sharp criticisms from the Trump administration

and the UN, but for many it came as no

real surprise. Husband and wife co-presidents Daniel

Ortega and Rosario Murillo have been in an all-out

crackdown on dissent since 2018 when the government

quashed mass protests.

Since, they've jailed political opponents, religious leaders,

and activists. They've expelled hundreds from the country

and

shut down civil society groups, and they've effectively

consolidated control of the government in their own hands.

The country was supposed to hold elections in 2027, even after

basically eradicating opposition.

Then this week, Ortega announced that his government would put an

end to elections altogether.

Jamás, jamás,

jamás.

Critics say it will effectively turn Nicaragua into a democratic

black hole unlike any other place in the Americas.