Nicaragua's Ortega and Murillo gain absolute power with constitutional amendment

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, will gain absolute power following a constitutional amendment approved by loyalist lawmakers. This change elevates Murillo to "co-president" and extends the presidential term from five to six years. The amendment, proposed by Ortega, also increases presidential control over the media and allows for stricter regulation of independent organizations. It is expected to pass a second reading in January. Critics describe the move as a consolidation of a nepotistic dictatorship, with Ortega's government already having jailed hundreds of opponents and shut down thousands of NGOs since 2018. The revised constitution will define Nicaragua as a "revolutionary" and socialist state.