Nicaraguan MPs cheap reform to enlarge the power of Ortegás

Nicaraguan MPs cheap reform to enlarge the power of Ortegás

The Nicaraguan Parliament, which is dominated by the ruling Sandinista front, passed a constitutional reform on Friday that President Daniel Ortega as well as the police and the military gives more power.

expansion of presidential powers

The reform increases the president's control over the media, extends the term of the president's term of five to six years and changes the roles of Vice President and President to "Co President". Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is at the side of Ortega, becomes co-president. The couple has been married since 2005 and Murillo was appointed vice president in 2017.

repression and political prisoners

In recent years, Ortega has strongly suppressed the opposition. More than 200 political prisoners were released at the beginning of last year and flown to the United States, including five former presidential candidates who tried to get out of prisoner in the increasingly authoritarian elections of 2021.

control over important institutions

According to the new reform, the CO Presidents have control over the legislative, the judicial, the elections as well as public administrative and supervisory authorities. In addition, it is stipulated that the state must ensure that the media do not "are subject to foreign interests and do not spread false news".

of the legislative process

The reform must be approved in a second legislative procedure next year before becoming law. The government's critics have declared that the reforms legitimize the "absolute power", which has been practiced by Ortega and Murillo for years.

reactions from the international community

The organization of American states has found that Ortega and Murillo intend to increase their absolute control over the state and to consolidate their position of power. The reform, which the 79-year-old Ortega "urgently" brought into parliament on Tuesday, was unanimously approved by 91 MPs.

outlook and concerns

Gustavo Porras, the head of the legislative, confirmed during the meeting on Friday that the reform on January 10 will be a second time, according to the Nicaraguan law, which states that constitutional laws have to be approved in two legislative periods. Porras rejected the criticism of the reform and described it as "a stupid way of practicing opposition".

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concerns about the changes and described them as further worrying step backwards for the separation of powers and the control of the executive in Nicaragua. He warned: "If these changes are accepted, they mean the end of the fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Nicaragua."