Ortega buries elections and embraces authoritarian socialism

Ortega buries elections and embraces authoritarian socialism

What happens when an aging Sandinista leader decides that the ballot box is a farce and that his power needs no democratic legitimacy? Daniel Ortega has made it clear: in Nicaragua, elections as a tool of "imperialism" are over. A discourse some call "based" and others simply a personal fiefdom.

Ortega's turn: anti-imperialism or textbook autocracy

Ortega's statements point to an explicit abandonment of the electoral model. "I'm the one in charge here," he essentially says, and his inner circle defends it as an act of sovereignty against foreign interference, citing Trump's precedent in 2020. Yet the parallel with a populist leader who also distrusts the ballot box is no coincidence. Nicaragua's economy, meanwhile, shows no signs of improvement: investment has collapsed and emigration continues unabated.

Some recall the words of Moisés Hassan, a former colleague of Ortega, who described the regime as a "gang" more anti-imperialist than socialist, closer to the Iranian model. A label Ortega seems to embrace with pride. The "juche-style socialism, latin style" some attribute to him is nothing more than a dictatorship disguised as permanent revolution.

Two irreconcilable visions

On one side, those who applaud the table-slamming: "Finally someone drops the farce," they argue. On the other, those who see a country sinking under the whim of a ruler who confuses nation with personal estate. The reality is that Nicaragua adds another year of recession and brain drain, while its president rants against the "oligarchy" and "Zionocracy."

Conclusion: Ortega has chosen to be king of a kingdom in ruins. Being "based" sounds good on a forum, but on the street people still can't see a clear future.