Nicaragua amends constitution, grants 'absolute power' to president and his wife
Summary
Nicaragua's legislature has amended the constitution to give President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, "absolute power," officially naming her "co-president" and consolidating control over all state branches.
The reform extends presidential terms from five to six years and tightens control over media, the Church, and political opponents.
Critics, including the UN, warn this dismantles democracy and entrenches dictatorship.
The government has already jailed dissidents, exiled critics, and revoked citizenship from opponents, sparking global condemnation.
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Comments29
So dictatorship
Nicaragua is a small country, but it is an example of what the whole world is moving into, just ahead of the rest.
Aw c'mon don't be such a downer! I'm sure they'll hold elections still, and just you watch, I bet an suspiciously-specific 98% of voters* are just gonna love these folks for another 6 years...and another, even!
/s (In case it's needed. Lol)
What an interesting history Ortega has. I remember him most from his first dictatorship, when he was a leftist. Now he's right-wing.
Either way, a dictatorship is a dictatorship.
I'm a little impressed by the heel turn of someone who literally fought a civil war against the right wing going to the right after taking power
Judging by the picture: Is the wife trying to find an emperor that turned into a llama?
Do you have any idea how bad it hurts to snort laugh while hitting a vape? Do you?
I guess not as much as pulling the wrong lever.
I can't fucking breathe omg
"Why do we even have that lever?"
Man I'm Nicaraguan, I've lived abroad for a while now in Europe and I find it hilarious that everyone instantly associates her with yzma when I show pictures of them two just like all Nicaraguans do xD
As another curiosity there's a church in Nicaragua that has a painting from the early 20th century where the devil appears and he literally looks like Ortega, I guess them two are a perfect match
A llama? He's supposed to be DEAD!
Trump is listening.
Trump's mini mushroom micro penis is as erect as it can possibly get these days.
Please don’t detail trumps penis. I’m distressed enough as it is.
Write that down!
Oh, good. Banger of a year this 2025, really enjoying the unending amounts of despair so far
Tankies love him.
There are a huge number of people in Australia who still love John Curtin, when he tried the same shit on in Australia, almost 100 years ago.
The idea that Parliament should have 'Absolute Power' is absolutely terrifying.
Weird that they would extend terms but only by 1 year. If you're already giving yourself total power and will presumably keep extending the term limits, why not just remove then entirely? Or at least make it 10 years or something?
Because this way they can say, "this will only last a year." Similar to "dictator on day one only."
His wife too? How inclusive.
If you're curious what their official children are up to: https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-04-20/nicaraguas-political-dynasty-heirs-in-a-golden-cage.html
Tldr: the eldest daughter accused her father of sexual abuse and had to run to Costa Rica. The lives of the other 8 adult children + the lives of their families are mostly controlled by the president's wife.
At this point, regicide, I guess. Lol
...and his wife
Reminds me of Bill Burr's monologue on the first ladies
Sounds like a Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos situation.
Let the global free-for-all begin!
Bet he sends Trump a couple million and a thank you card to look the other way
If Reed Brody is criticizing Ortega then that is a bad sign I can see the deeper situation, that this is really just hardening the Nicaraguan government against external meddling, which is a BIG thing in Nicaragua. That said, it would be impressive if the Nicaraguan government could find a better way to do that
Write that down!