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.

    • Zelaya
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      572 months ago

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

    • @MonkeMischief@lemmy.today
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      22 months ago

      Aw c’mon don’t be such a downer! I’m sure they’ll hold elections still, and just you watch, I bet an suspiciously-specific 98% of voters* are just gonna love these folks for another 6 years…and another, even!

      /s (In case it’s needed. Lol)

  • AmidFuror
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    1012 months 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.

    • @captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      42 months ago

      I’m a little impressed by the heel turn of someone who literally fought a civil war against the right wing going to the right after taking power

    • thespacecowboy
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      2 months ago

      Man I’m Nicaraguan, I’ve lived abroad for a while now in Europe and I find it hilarious that everyone instantly associates her with yzma when I show pictures of them two just like all Nicaraguans do xD

      As another curiosity there’s a church in Nicaragua that has a painting from the early 20th century where the devil appears and he literally looks like Ortega, I guess them two are a perfect match

    • ms.lane
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      2 months ago

      There are a huge number of people in Australia who still love John Curtin, when he tried the same shit on in Australia, almost 100 years ago.

      The idea that Parliament should have ‘Absolute Power’ is absolutely terrifying.

  • @gmtom@lemmy.world
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    182 months ago

    Weird that they would extend terms but only by 1 year. If you’re already giving yourself total power and will presumably keep extending the term limits, why not just remove then entirely? Or at least make it 10 years or something?

    • Flying Squid
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      252 months ago

      Because this way they can say, “this will only last a year.” Similar to “dictator on day one only.”

  • BigLime
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    112 months ago

    …and his wife

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

  • @gimmelemmy@lemmy.world
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    82 months 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