rNicaraguan resident Daniel Ortegaproposed a reform of the Constitution of this country so that The executive branch “coordinates” other powers of the state (judicial and legislative). and this at the same time reduces the number of judges of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Electoral Council; in addition to extending the presidential term from five to six years and install the figure of a “co-president” for the direct benefit of his wife Rosario Murillo.

All of the above follows from initiative to reform the Political Constitution published this Wednesday by the National Assembly (Parliament) of Nicaragua

The proposal for constitutional reform, sent yesterday to parliament, where the Sandinistas have an absolute majority, also proposes to include as a national symbol the flag of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), the party that emerged from the Sandinista revolution, which suffered from multiple purges of its original members and creates the Volunteer Police as an auxiliary and supporting body of the National Police, which, according to opponents of the Ortega regime, is equivalent to the legalization of parapolice and paramilitary forces.

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The initiative, which proposes to reform hundreds of articles of the Magna Carta, establishes in Chapter II, Article 132 thate The President of the Republic will lead the government and, as head of state, will coordinate the legislative, judicial, electoral and control both regional and municipal.

It also establishes that the President of the Republic also The Supreme Headquarters of the Nicaraguan Army will be located.National Police and Ministry of the Interior.

Presidency with two co-presidents

In Article 133 it also states thatThe Presidency of the Republic consists of a co-president and a co-president. They are elected on the basis of universal, equal, direct, free and secret suffrage, with those who receive a relative majority of votes being elected.

To become Co-President of the Republic, you must resident in the country for six years before the electionexcept that during the said period, on official behalf of the state, I am performing a diplomatic mission, serving in international organizations, or conducting training abroad, among other capacities.

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Similarly, it was established that They cannot be candidates for the President of the Republic. those who lead or finance a coup d’état, those who change the constitutional order, those who have acquired another nationality, and high-ranking government officials “unless they have resigned from office twelve months before the election.”

The amendment also provides that the co-president and co-president will serve for a term of six years.which will be counted from the moment of their assumption of office, and that during this period they will enjoy immunity.

Since 1997, the presidential term has been 5 years. Ortega, 79 years old, He ends his fifth term – and fourth in a row – on January 10, 2027. The 2014 Constitution allows for the president to be re-elected indefinitely.

The reform initiative states that due to the permanent absence of one of the co-presidents, the other co-president will complete the term for which they were elected.

In the event of the final absence of the two co-chairs, the Supreme Electoral Council must immediately call elections, which will take place within a maximum of 60 days, and during this time The head of parliament will assume these functions on a temporary basis.

Co-presidents may appoint vice presidents to perform their assigned functions in accordance with the initiative.

General and municipal elections every 6 years.

Moreover, he assumes that general election for “co-president and co-president”, as well as legislative, They will be held every six years on the first Sunday after the second November of the relevant election year, and not every five, as is the case now.

Meanwhile, elections for mayors, deputy mayors and councilors will be held every six years on the first Sunday after November 2 of the relevant election year. not every four years like today.

While the elections are in Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean will be held every six years on the first Sunday in March of the relevant election year, rather than every four years.

Twelfth constitutional reform

He February 9, 2023Ortega announced his intention to reform the Political Constitution and appoint his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, as “Co-President of the Republic”.

“Here is comrade Rosario Murillo, co-president of the Republic. It’s really like this: She is the co-president of the Republic! We will have to make some reforms in the Constitution.”– the Sandinista leader said on this occasion in the presence of Murillo, mentioning the release and deportation to the United States of 222 Nicaraguan political prisoners, including Catholic priests.

Nicaragua’s parliament is completely controlled by Ortega’s supporters, giving them the power to approve ordinary laws or partially or completely reform the Constitution.

Ortega, 79 years old, Since 2007, he has asked to reform the Constitution 12 times.including one that allows him to be re-elected for an indefinite term.

(According to EFE)