On Tuesday, September 1, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo approved the constitutional reform that confirms the definitive abolition of free and competitive elections and reaffirms the totalitarian nature of their dictatorship. They approved it in the first instance, and—in accordance with procedural formalities—will grant final approval in the second instance early next year.
But the truth is that competitive elections have been nonexistent in Nicaragua since 2006, when Daniel Ortega deceitfully won the presidential election that returned him to power. Furthermore, long before these latest spurious constitutional reforms were approved, the new Sandinista dictatorship had already drifted into totalitarianism.
What is notable is that by formally passing this totalitarian constitutional reform, Ortega and Murillo are actively provoking the Inter-American democratic community, specifically the United States government. They are doing so on the eve of an extraordinary meeting of OAS foreign ministers, convened precisely at the behest of the United States to address Nicaragua’s political crisis and approve whatever measures are deemed appropriate.
It is no coincidence that Ortega and Murillo moved up the formal and public approval of their constitutional reforms. They had originally scheduled the announcement for the Patriotic Holidays on September 14–15, then rescheduled it for September 21, the anniversary of the assassination of Liberal dictator Anastasio Somoza García. Ultimately, however, they brought the announcement forward to Tuesday, September 1st —the day before Army Day— during which the dictatorship showcased its military power while high-ranking commanders pledged unconditional obedience to the co-dictators.
Contrary to the speculation of some opposition analysts, Ortega and Murillo are demonstrating that they do not fear the U.S., and much less the OAS. Instead, they are actively provoking them by doubling down on authoritarian measures. The co-dictators seemingly believe that as long as President Donald Trump does not address them personally —starting by calling them out by name— the U.S. response will not go beyond Department of State declarations and superficial individual sanctions.
Thus, time will tell what form the response from the U.S. and the hemispheric community will take when confronting this latest and greatest totalitarian challenge from Ortega and Murillo.
For now, the U.S. government responded through a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who warned: «Dictatorships that deny the inalienable rights of their citizens should not enjoy the same economic or political benefits as governments committed to defending hemispheric peace and security.» He added that «the United States urges international partners to immediately cease business as usual with this brutal dictatorship. Murillo and Ortega’s war against democracy threatens the stability and prosperity of our hemisphere.»
For his part, OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin characterized the situation in Nicaragua as a «political tragedy» with regional repercussions, stating that «the hemisphere must move from statements to concrete proposals and coordinated actions.» However, he reiterated that these measures should «contribute, through peaceful means, to creating the conditions for dialogue and a transition toward full democracy. We must help create conditions for Nicaragua to recover its democratic space, release political prisoners, protect human rights, and map out a roadmap toward free, credible, and accessible elections for all. The future of Nicaragua must be decided by Nicaraguans themselves and for the benefit of its people.»
These are undoubtedly noble intentions; Ortega and Murillo are demonstrating through their actions that they are unwilling to yield anything —whether through diplomacy or pressure— and that force is the only language they speak and understand.
In any case, we must wait a few days to see what unilateral and collective measures —political, diplomatic, and material— will be approved at the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers. We will soon find out whether this meeting delivers real results or becomes yet another profound disappointment for the Nicaraguan people, who urgently need genuine, effective support from the international democratic community to free themselves from dictatorship.
