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.

  • AmidFuror@fedia.io
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    5 hours ago

    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.

    • Zelaya@lemmy.today
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      5 hours ago

      Nicaragua is a small country, but it is an example of what the whole world is moving into, just ahead of the rest.

  • BigLime@lemmy.ml
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    5 hours ago

    …and his wife

    Reminds me of Bill Burr’s monologue on the first ladies

  • gimmelemmy@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    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