The president of Nicaragua can be re-elected

In a highly controversial election, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is seeking his fourth consecutive term. The 75-year-old former revolutionary will take part in Sunday’s vote without serious opposition: in the past few months, several critics of Ortega and seven candidates have been arrested or placed under house arrest. An important opposition party alliance was also excluded from the elections.

After the overthrow of dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979, Ortega was already in power in the Central American country – first as a member of the junta, then as president – until he was elected in 1990. Since 2007 he has been the head of state and government again. Constitutional reform has since removed term limits for the president. Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s wife, has been vice president since 2017. According to EU foreign policy coordinator Josep Borrell and the US government, this is not a free and fair election. They warn of a dictatorship.

About 4.5 million Nicaraguans are entitled to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. Polling stations close at 1 am CET on Monday. It is unclear whether the first results can be expected during the night.