Nicaragua's Ortega Vows to Abolish Elections in First Appearance in Two Months

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega made his first public appearance in approximately two months, during which he declared an end to elections in the country. Ortega, who has held power continuously since 2007 after an earlier presidential term in the 1980s, stated that abolishing elections would cut off any avenue for the opposition. He did not elaborate on how or when this measure would be implemented. The announcement signals a further consolidation of authoritarian rule in Nicaragua.