Daniel Ortega is going all the way and simply abolishing the country’s opposition, even though it already operates within extremely narrow limits. He intends to prevent it from standing in elections. In doing so, he is setting Nicaragua on a collision course with Trump, who is expanding his influence in Latin America. Seven countries are now governed by politicians who are aligned with Trump.

Abolishing the opposition is tantamount to a declaration of war against the United States. Even the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has turned against Ortega.

Next month, the National Assembly is to vote on whether opposition parties should be barred from contesting elections, as President Daniel Ortega wishes.

Consideration of the proposal begins on Wednesday in the National Assembly and the Electoral Commission, and it is to be put to a vote in August, says the Speaker of the National Assembly, Gustavo Porras.

The former guerrilla leader Ortega has ruled the country for nearly two decades and announced on Sunday that “there will be no elections in Nicaragua”. The statement triggered condemnations from governments, non-governmental organisations, and opposition politicians in exile.

In addition to the condemnations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for the “immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained”.

“I urge the authorities to reopen civic space and restore the rule of law. People of all political views must be allowed to vote and to stand for election,” Türk said.

Porras, however, told pro-government media that “it is we Nicaraguans who decide when and how we will hold elections”.

He said the electoral authorities would ensure a watertight system and prevent the “terrible manipulation carried out by empires and their lackeys”, referring to the opposition parties.

“It must never happen again, as Comandante Daniel referred to; never again shall elections fall into the hands of the imperialists,” Porras said. (NTB)