Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega said the Central American country would no longer hold elections, further closing off any potential path for the opposition to challenge the government he leads with his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Ortega, Nicaragua’s longest-serving leader, has remained in power since 2007 after previously governing during the 1980s. His current presidential term is scheduled to run through 2027.

«There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,» Ortega said.

He delivered the remarks Sunday during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which Ortega participated in the overthrow of the US-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.

TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER’S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATION

The declaration appeared to eliminate the possibility of a future electoral challenge as Ortega and Murillo continue consolidating control over the country’s political institutions.

«The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over — never again,» Ortega declared.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment.

The Trump administration has described the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on members of the government and their allies. The State Department has also enacted visa restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.

«The United States stands with the Nicaraguan people who, like Rivera, aspire to see a free Nicaragua,» Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in June.

TRUMP EXPANDS CUBA SANCTIONS BEYOND US COMPANIES IN MAJOR CRACKDOWN ON FOREIGN ENABLERS

The Trump administration has described the Ortega government as a dictatorship. (Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg)

The Biden administration previously said Ortega illegitimately awarded himself another term following Nicaragua’s disputed 2021 presidential election.

Authorities arrested presidential candidates, opposition figures, business leaders and journalists ahead of that vote as the government intensified its criminalization of dissent.

Ortega and Murillo further expanded their authority through sweeping constitutional changes that took effect in 2025. The reforms extended the presidential term from five years to six and elevated Murillo from vice president to «co-president.»

The changes also placed Nicaragua’s legislative, judicial and electoral institutions under the authority of the presidency, according to United Nations experts.

Ortega and Murillo now exercise control over nearly every branch of the government, including the armed forces, police and judiciary.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have control over nearly every aspect of the country’s government. (INTI OCON/AFP)

Ortega had already effectively eliminated meaningful electoral competition during elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021, Salvador Marenco, coordinator of the Costa Rica-based Nicaragua Nunca Más Human Rights Collective, told Reuters.

Many prominent opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal status.

A United Nations group of experts has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a campaign to eliminate criticism and preserve its hold on power. The experts said some alleged violations may amount to crimes against humanity.

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The government launched a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018. More than 300 people were killed during the unrest, according to international human rights groups.

Reuters contributed to this report.

El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, llegó este martes a Manila para participar en la reunión anual de la Asociación de Naciones del Sudeste Asiático (ASEAN), una cita marcada por el impacto económico y político de la guerra en Irán, la crisis energética derivada del conflicto en Medio Oriente, las tensiones entre Washington y Beijing en el mar de China Meridional y la situación de Myanmar.

Los ministros de Exteriores y representantes de los once países del bloque iniciaron la reunión con una sesión plenaria en la capital filipina, donde abordarán asuntos relacionados con la seguridad regional, la interconexión energética y la estabilidad económica de una región con unos 700 millones de habitantes.

La crisis energética ocupa un lugar central en la agenda de los países del Sudeste Asiático debido a la dependencia de las importaciones de combustible procedentes de Medio Oriente. La interrupción de la navegación por el estrecho de Ormuz, tras los enfrentamientos entre Estados Unidos e Israel contra Irán, generó preocupación por el abastecimiento de petróleo y otros recursos energéticos.

Los recientes ataques iraníes contra barcos que intentaron atravesar Ormuz volvieron a elevar las alertas en la región, después de un periodo de estabilidad alcanzado en junio tras un acuerdo de cese al fuego entre Washington y Teherán que Estados Unidos dio por terminado hace dos semanas.

La llegada de Rubio a Manila coincidió con nuevas advertencias de Washington contra acciones de China en el mar de China Meridional, una zona disputada por varios países del Sudeste Asiático y considerada clave para el comercio internacional.

Antes del viaje, el Departamento de Estado señaló que el objetivo de Rubio es impulsar “un Indo-Pacífico libre y abierto que brinde seguridad y prosperidad para la región y para el pueblo estadounidense”.

En un artículo publicado en Filipinas antes de la reunión, el secretario de Estado destacó el compromiso de Estados Unidos con “la libertad de navegación en el Sudeste Asiático” y afirmó que esa condición enfrenta riesgos.

“Esta libertad no está garantizada de ninguna manera. Si estas aguas quedaran bajo el control de una potencia dispuesta a utilizar el comercio como un arma geopolítica, tanto Estados Unidos como los Estados de la ASEAN enfrentarían nuevas amenazas graves para su soberanía, seguridad y futuro económico”, escribió Rubio.

El funcionario estadounidense no confirmó si mantendrá un encuentro bilateral con su homólogo chino, Wang Yi, quien también participa de la cita en Manila. La posibilidad de una reunión ocurre después de las tensiones entre Washington y Beijing por distintos asuntos políticos y estratégicos.

La disputa marítima volvió a ocupar espacio tras un enfrentamiento entre embarcaciones filipinas y chinas en el banco de arena Second Thomas Shoal, en el mar de China Meridional. Manila afirmó que personal de la Guardia Costera china atacó a marineros filipinos cerca de un buque encallado que funciona como puesto militar en la zona disputada. Beijing acusó a Filipinas de provocar el incidente al enviar personas en pequeñas embarcaciones hacia su nave.

El episodio generó nuevas dudas sobre las negociaciones para alcanzar un Código de Conducta entre la ASEAN y China para el mar de China Meridional, un mecanismo destinado a establecer reglas sobre las actividades en esas aguas.

La seguridad energética también será uno de los principales temas durante la semana. Filipinas declaró una emergencia energética en marzo y amplió sus fuentes de abastecimiento, incluida la compra de petróleo procedente de Rusia. El ministro de Exteriores ruso, Sergei Lavrov, también tiene previsto llegar a Manila.

Los países del bloque impulsan además la ratificación del acuerdo marco sobre seguridad petrolera de la ASEAN, un mecanismo destinado al intercambio de combustibles entre sus miembros.

Otro eje de la reunión será Myanmar, país apartado de las reuniones de líderes y ministros de Exteriores de la ASEAN desde el golpe de Estado militar de 2021. El bloque analizará los recientes contactos con el gobierno castrense y las propuestas para una posible reincorporación del país a los espacios regionales.

La sublevación militar terminó con una década de transición democrática, profundizó los conflictos internos con grupos rebeldes y provocó la detención de dirigentes civiles, incluida la premio Nobel de la Paz Aung San Suu Kyi.

Tailandia impulsó el acercamiento con Myanmar y planteó recuperar su participación en las actividades de la ASEAN. El ministro de Exteriores tailandés, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, afirmó: “Es mejor traer a Myanmar de vuelta al grupo”. Además, agregó: “Creemos que después de cinco años necesitamos hablar, necesitamos escuchar y ellos necesitan explicar”.

Sin embargo, algunos países mantienen reservas sobre una mayor integración del gobierno militar. El analista político tailandés Thitinan Pongsudhirak advirtió a EFE que “ceder demasiado pronto ante el gobierno militar birmano pone en riesgo la credibilidad de la ASEAN”.

La ASEAN fue creada en 1967 y está integrada por Birmania, Brunéi, Camboya, Filipinas, Indonesia, Laos, Malasia, Singapur, Tailandia, Timor Oriental y Vietnam.

(Con información de EFE y AP)

The Democratic Party’s ideological war is moving from deep-blue congressional districts to statewide contests in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, where progressive victories could reshape the party and endanger must-hold seats in November.

After far-left and socialist candidates defeated more moderate contenders in deep-blue districts last month, upcoming Senate primaries in Michigan and Minnesota and Wisconsin’s gubernatorial primary will test whether the movement can translate those wins into statewide power.

Progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont and two-time Democratic presidential primary runner-up, touted on the campaign trail this past weekend, «Within the last year, we have won mayor’s races in New York City. We’ve won mayor’s races in Seattle. Washington, D.C. We have won congressional elections and Democratic primaries in Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Montana, Colorado, New Jersey and New York.»

After victories by far-left and socialist candidates over more moderate contenders in deep-blue congressional districts in New York City and Colorado last month drew outsized national attention, upcoming primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin are now the latest battleground in the high-stakes showdown.

And the center is pushing back.

MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS

«Socialism has not worked anywhere on the globe,» former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday in an interview on Fox Business’ «Mornings with Maria.» «Promises of free lunch, free buses, free bread, free everything. There’s no such thing as free. Someone always pays. This is a dream. This is nirvana. This is utopia. And they’re selling to young people who are buying it. It’s not going to work.»

The former governor resigned amid multiple scandals five years ago and failed in his political comeback last year, losing New York City’s mayoral election to socialist Zohran Mamdani,

The victories by a trio of far-left congressional candidates in New York City heavily supported by Mamdani, followed a week later by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed challenger and first-time candidate Melat Kiros’ defeat of 15-term Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado, have emboldened progressives as they wage a far-left national pressure campaign against the Democratic Party.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY CIVIL WAR HITS DEBATE STAGE IN CRUCIAL PRIMARY SHOWDOWN

«Only socialism can solve decades of capitalist mismanagement in the US. Our newly elected leaders will fight for the working class — not for crumbs,» the DSA proclaimed in a social media post celebrating the string of primary election victories.

That view is far from universal.

«I’m tired of being told that, to be a progressive, I now must swear allegiance to crazy ideas,» Democratic political analyst Van Jones, a veteran of then-President Barack Obama’s administration, lamented in a social media post.

«Supporting Hamas is not progressive. ‘No police, no prisons, no borders’ is not progressive. Celebrating the murder of Israeli civilians is not progressive. These ideas are REGRESSIVE,» Jones wrote.

Jamie Metzl, a technology and healthcare futurist who years ago served in former President Bill Clinton’s administration, said in a Fox News Channel interview that it’s time for Democrats «to stand up» to what he called «the bigots and anti-Americans in our own party.»

Metzl said the DSA and other far-left groups «who are trying to take control of our party and our brand» represent «a fundamental threat to our party and our country.»

VAN JONES WARNS FAR-LEFT AGENDA IS ‘REGRESSIVE’ THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., has abandoned his neutrality in Michigan’s high-stakes Democratic Senate primary, backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, pictured left, as party leaders rally to stop progressive rival Abdul El-Sayed, pictured right, from winning the nomination. (AP Photo/Kristen Norman)

Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another progressive rockstar, parachuted into Michigan’s campaign trail this past weekend to boost Abdul El-Sayed, the far-left candidate they’re supporting in a crucial Democratic Senate primary.

El-Sayed, a former Wayne County Health Department director who unsuccessfully ran an insurgent campaign for governor in 2018, is facing off for the party’s nomination in the Great Lakes battleground state against Rep. Haley Stevens, a more moderate lawmaker backed by longtime Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer and the establishment.

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The winner of the Aug. 4 Democratic primary will take on former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glide path to the GOP nomination, in the key midterm Senate faceoff to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

The rare open Senate seat is a top Republican target in the midterms, as well as a must-hold for the Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber with a slim 53-47 margin.

El-Sayed, who, if elected, would make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator, has made support for Medicare for all a major component of his campaign.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

The far-left candidate has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as «genocide» against Palestinians. And El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, has vowed not to accept PAC donations.

Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. They worry that El-Sayed as the party’s nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago by just over one percentage point.

The primary clash is combustible and expensive, with outside groups spending big bucks to flood the campaign trail with ads. The biggest spending, to boost Stevens and attack El-Sayed, is United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., from left, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speak during the «The People v. The Powerful» campaign event at the Detroit Opera House in Detroit on July 18, 2026. (Nic Antaya/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

«I think we’re at an opportunity to show folks where the Democratic Party ought to go. Whether or not there are people who oppose that, that’s for them to decide. But if you’re opposing that on behalf of big corporations, folks like AIPAC, you’re going to find that their power is going to start to slip,» El-Sayed warned in a Fox News interview on Sunday.

Sanders, speaking alongside El-Sayed and Ocasio-Cortez on Saturday, argued, «In all due respect to Haley Stevens, everyone knows that this is not an election between her and Abdul El-Sayed. This is an election between Abdul and the billionaire class.»

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a vocal critic of the far left and a top Democratic supporter of Israel, fired back in a Fox News Channel interview.

«You know, humble yourself, Bernie. You know, you just pushed an accused rapist and imploded up in Maine and now you’re pushing, you know, essentially a pro-Hamas candidate that’s been anti-American and deeply anti-Israel,» Fetterman said as he pointed to Sanders’ support over the past year for now-ex-Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner of Maine.

Platner ended his campaign earlier this month, amid calls from top Democrats in Maine and across the country to immediately exit the race following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the report but stepped aside.

One week after the showdown in Michigan, on Aug. 11, Wisconsin will hold its primary elections. That’s where DSA-backed state Rep. Francesca Hong is on the rise among a crowded field of candidates in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

«It’s a great day to be a democratic socialist,» Hong posted on X last month after the progressive victories in New York City, in which two Democratic congressional incumbents lost renomination. «Wisconsin is next!»

Francesca Hong, a Democratic state lawmaker and socialist candidate for Wisconsin governor, speaks to voters at a retirement home, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (Scott Bauer/AP Photo)

The same day, another statewide battle will take place as progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota and more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig are the leading contenders in the Democratic primary faceoff to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith, a fellow Democrat.

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While the upcoming primary battles will impact the fight for the future of the party, there’s a more immediate concern: this year’s midterm faceoff for congressional majorities.

«What you’re seeing here are the two opposing forces of the Democratic Party,» veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital as he referred to the ballot box showdowns. «The stakes are monumentally high because Democrats have to hold these seats in November.»