Q COSTA RICA — In his speech commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, dictator Daniel Ortega emphatically stated that there will be no new presidential elections in Nicaragua.
His objective, according to him, is to prevent the opposition from attempting to “seize power” through the ballot box.
Ortega described his adversaries as “coup plotters” and “traitors” who remain “lurking,” waiting for an opportunity. “There will be no more elections here so they can try to seize the government, to seize power,” Ortega declared.
He also announced that he will promote, along with the National Assembly, controlled by the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) — Sandinista National Liberation Front, and other state institutions, a package of new laws designed to erect “a wall” preventing the political participation of these sectors. “No matter how much money the Yankees give them, they won’t be able to,” he added, referring to the alleged external funding of the opposition in exile.
These statements come amid growing concern within the Nicaraguan regime regarding the situation of its regional allies.
Ortega criticized the imprisonment in the United States of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and rejected any possibility of similar scenarios occurring in Cuba or Nicaragua.
The message reinforces the current strategy of consolidating power, which already includes recent constitutional reforms and strengthened control of institutions. While the ruling party celebrates the anniversary of the revolution, these statements deepen the debate about the country’s democratic future and the ongoing exclusion of dissenting voices from the political process.
In his address, Ortega not only ruled out the scheduled elections but also announced a package of new laws—along with the National Assembly controlled by his party—to erect a “wall” blocking the political participation of the opposition, which he labeled “coup plotters” and “traitors” allegedly financed by the United States. These measures deepen the regime’s control following constitutional reforms that extended terms of office and consolidated the power of the ruling family.
Costa Rica demands free elections
The Government of Costa Rica firmly reaffirmed its support for holding free, transparent, and democratic elections in Nicaragua, in a clear message against the recent statements by the Daniel Ortega regime that rule out any electoral process and seek to shield power indefinitely.
In an official statement, the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry highlighted its historic commitment to democracy in the region, reiterating that the electoral path remains the only legitimate way to resolve the Nicaraguan crisis.
This Costa Rican stance aligns with its track record in multilateral forums, where it has consistently promoted the return to democratic institutions in Nicaragua. Analysts see these statements as a timely reminder that the regime’s isolation is not only an internal matter, but also a challenge for the inter-American system.