On January 30, Reuters reported that Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega successfully pushed through constitutional reforms aimed at further solidifying his authority by expanding control over other branches of government. Despite receiving unanimous approval, the reforms have sparked controversy.
Advocates assert that the reforms deepen Nicaragua's decades-old revolution, while critics condemn them as a power grab by an increasingly autocratic political dynasty. The changes include empowering the presidency to oversee judicial and legislative functions, authorizing military intervention to aid the police, and allowing security personnel to temporarily assume executive roles.
Congress head Gustavo Porras defended the reforms, emphasizing Nicaragua as a revolutionary government, even if it challenges some individuals. Additionally, the reforms enhance state dominance over media, redefine the vice president (Ortega's wife, Rosario Murillo) as "co-president," extend the presidential term to six years, and enable the appointment of numerous vice presidents. Speculation arises regarding the potential succession of Ortega and Murillo's children.
Ortega's regime, now considered authoritarian, grants unprecedented powers to utilize the military for law enforcement and expands security forces. Critics, including a United Nations expert, lament these changes as detrimental to law and freedom in Nicaragua. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concern over the concentration of power, threats to freedom of expression, and the potential for stripping citizens' nationality for loosely defined offenses.
Originally a leftist rebel, Ortega first assumed office in 1979 after overthrowing a right-wing regime. He now serves his fourth consecutive term, having returned to power in 2007.