The Government of Guatemala, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed this Wednesday, July 22, its rejection of the statements by the president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega Saavedra, who stated that elections will not be held again in that country, which limits the possibility of alternation in power.
“This assertion constitutes a serious violation of the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Inter-American Democratic Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the principles of democracy and universal suffrage,” said the Government of Guatemala.
He stated that the suppression of electoral processes eliminates any possibility of alternation in the exercise of power, restricts the political rights of citizens and weakens the principles of the rule of law, the separation of powers and political pluralism.
“Guatemala expresses its solidarity with the Nicaraguan people and calls for full respect for freedoms of expression, association and political participation, essential elements to guarantee a democratic society that exercises the right to hold periodic, free and fair elections,” he stressed.
The National Assembly (Parliament) of Nicaragua began a work plan to prepare reforms to the Constitution and other laws, after Daniel Ortega ordered changes to prevent the opposition from competing in elections again, amid rejection from countries such as Costa Rica, Panama and the United States, EFE reported.
The Parliament, controlled by the ruling party, announced that it will hold special sessions with the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE), related to the Executive, in order to define the constitutional, legal and formal steps that, as indicated, will allow “guaranteeing the legal bases” of the reforms.
During the commemoration of the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, held on July 19, Ortega assured that he will not allow electoral processes that put the control of the ruling party at risk.
Ortega, an 80-year-old former Sandinista guerrilla, has governed Nicaragua since 2007 and, since February 2025, has shared the Presidency with Rosario Murillo, appointed co-president after a constitutional reform that created that figure.
For years, his Government has faced accusations of electoral fraud, political persecution and elimination of rivals to prevent electoral competition, the information added.
Nicaraguan activists, mostly in exile, grouped in the Human Rights Collective for the Historical Memory of Nicaragua, demanded this Wednesday that the United Nations stop President Daniel Ortega’s initiative to promote changes to prevent the opposition from competing in elections again or ignore them if they are approved.
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