Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has initiated a formal process to eliminate elections in the country, signaling a departure from the common authoritarian strategy of maintaining a democratic facade. During a speech marking the anniversary of the 1979 revolution, Ortega stated that the era of opposition parties returning to power is over. Legislative measures to codify this change are currently underway.

While many modern authoritarian regimes, often described as “spin dictators,” utilize controlled elections to gather intelligence on public sentiment, identify loyal elites, and project international legitimacy, Ortega’s administration has increasingly relied on direct repression since the 2018 protests. According to the V-Dem Institute, Nicaragua is currently ranked as the least democratic nation in Latin America, falling behind other restricted regimes such as Cuba and Venezuela.

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The decision to scrap elections entirely is rare, as most autocracies—such as Russia under Vladimir Putin or the military junta in Myanmar—continue to stage contests to bolster their perceived authority. However, experts suggest this move reflects a growing trend of brazenness among global autocrats who are increasingly indifferent to maintaining democratic appearances or securing international approval.

Source: The Conversation