On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an official statement urging the global community to unite in isolating Daniel Ortega's regime after the dictator announced that Nicaragua would no longer hold elections.
Rubio's response came after Ortega's declaration on Sunday during the ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution in Managua. Ortega boldly stated, "They may wish to win elections to make them real with the schools. But they can forget it: there will be no more elections here, so they won't attempt to seize the government, seize power."
In his formal address at the State Department, Rubio claimed that Ortega's statements "expose the true authoritarian nature" of the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship, indicating that the regime has shed "even the pretense of popular consent."
The chief U.S. diplomat was unequivocal in his demand: "The Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their own leaders through democratic elections."
Additionally, Washington called on world governments to show that the dictatorship "cannot expect to maintain normal relations with other nations while undermining the foundational principles of our democratic hemisphere."
Ortega, aged 80 and in power since 2007, did not surprise the opposition in exile with his announcement. Opposition figure Juan Sebastián Chamorro remarked that the dictator "has removed yet another mask," confirming that he never intended to allow the opposition to contest power through elections.
The regime had already taken concrete steps in this direction. A constitutional reform approved in January 2025, effective since February 18 of that year, altered 185 of the 198 articles of the Nicaraguan Constitution: it extended the presidential term from five to six years, created the role of co-president for Rosario Murillo—Ortega's wife—established indefinite re-election, and eliminated the independence of state powers.
As a result of this reform, the general elections initially scheduled for November 2026 were already postponed to November 2027. With his Sunday declaration, Ortega ruled out any future electoral process.
In June 2026, the OAS unanimously demanded the restoration of democracy in Nicaragua and the unconditional release of all political prisoners, while Human Rights Watch documented at least 87 political prisoners in the country that year.
Washington's pressure on Managua has heightened in recent months. In April 2026, the U.S. sanctioned Ortega and Murillo's children along with seven mining companies linked to the regime. In June, it imposed visa restrictions on more than 100 additional officials, bringing the total sanctioned under the Trump-Rubio administration to over 2,350 individuals.
In response, Ortega called Trump "mentally deranged" in April following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, breaking the unspoken truce the Sandinista regime had maintained with Washington. Nicaragua's isolation has deepened further with the fall of the chavista regime in Venezuela, a historical ally of Managua.
The opposition movement Renacer denounced that the dictatorship has "explicitly abandoned the democratic system," while Rubio made it clear that all options remain on the table, including new financial sanctions and visa restrictions.
Impact of Ortega's Election Ban in Nicaragua
Why did Daniel Ortega announce the end of elections in Nicaragua?
Daniel Ortega announced the end of elections as part of his regime's move towards a more overt authoritarian stance, eliminating any potential for opposition to contest power through democratic means.
How has the United States responded to Ortega's announcement?
The United States, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has called for international unity in isolating Ortega's regime and emphasized that Nicaragua cannot expect normal relations with other nations while undermining democratic principles.
What actions has the U.S. taken against the Ortega regime?
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Ortega and Murillo's children and several mining companies linked to the regime. It has also restricted visas for over 2,350 officials associated with the dictatorship.