Unusual proposal by Daniel Ortega: he wants to reform the Constitution to appoint his wife “co-president”

While a multitude of Sandinista officials and militants took to the streets of several Nicaraguan cities to celebrate the country’s expulsion of 222 jailed opponents, the president Daniel Ortega presented an unusual proposal. He wants to reform the constitution so that his wife can be “co-president.”

The political machine of the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua mobilized its followers in a procession of thousands of supporters on Saturday evening to celebrate the government’s decision to expel and send to the United States opposition politicians, activists, priests, students and journalists, accused of “treason against the fatherland”.

Ortega proposed reforming the political constitution to name his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, “co-president of the Republic”. The proposal has already sparked controversy and a shower of criticism on social media.

The president made the installation during an official act, in the presence of Murillo, where he spoke of the release and expulsion of 222 Nicaraguan political prisoners.

“Here is comrade Rosario Murillo, co-president of the Republic. In truth, it is like this: she is co-president of the Republic!” Ortega underlined in his speech broadcast on national television.

“We will have to make reforms in the constitution,” admitted the Sandinista president, who has ruled since 2007.

Then, he ordered the head of the National Assembly (Parliament), the Sandinista Gustavo Porras, who was also present at the event, “to make some reforms (to the political constitution) so that the principle of co-presidency is established.”

Porras, who is part of the Ortega and Murillo power circle, made no reference to that proposal when he was interviewed on a talk show on Nicaraguan television’s Channel 4 on Friday. But he has made comments about a constitutional reform that he seeks remove the nationality of convicted Nicaraguans for offenses considered “treason”.

What does the Constitution say?

The Political Constitution of Nicaragua does not establish the legal figure or rank of “Co-President of the Republic”, but only that of Vice President of Nicaragua, a position that Rosario Murillo has held since January 2017.

According to social network users, it would be “very serious” amend the Constitution to make the president’s wife “co-president” by virtue of vice-president, with the same power and authority as the sovereign.

For the exiled Nicaraguan journalist Patricia Martínez, Ortega “plays” with Nicaragua “at will and whim” and for this he wants to name his wife “co-president”.

Article 144 of the Political Constitution establishes that executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic, who is the head of state, head of government and supreme head of the Nicaraguan army.

And in its article 145 it indicates that the Vice President of the Republic performs the functions indicated by the Constitution and those delegated by the President directly or through the law. And that he will replace the President in cases of temporary or permanent absence.

Nicaragua has been going through a political and social crisis since April 2018, which worsened after the controversial general elections of November 7, 2021, in which Ortega was re-elected for a fifth term, fourth in a row and second together with his wife , Rosario Murillo. , as vice president, with his main contenders in prison or in exile.

More than 300,000 Nicaraguans have decided to leave their country in the midst of the crisis, mainly to destinations such as Costa Rica, the United States and Spain.

Source: EFE, AP and AFP