State Department Criticizes Nicaraguan Government's Decision to End Elections

The U.S. State Department has condemned Nicaraguan co-president Daniel Ortega after he announced that the country will no longer hold elections. Ortega, who has been in power for nearly 20 years, stated that this decision is intended to prevent opposition parties from gaining control, labeling their attempts as efforts to 'seize the government.' The State Department described Ortega's declaration as revealing the authoritarian nature of his regime, stating that he and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have abandoned the pretense of popular consent. The spokesperson emphasized that their actions threaten U.S. national security interests in the region, citing issues such as illegal immigration and human rights abuses. Ortega, who has a history with the Sandinista National Liberation Front, indicated that elections would no longer occur to prevent opposition from returning to power. The State Department reiterated that the Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their leaders through democratic elections and called on the international community to respond to Ortega's regime.