Protests in Nicaragua Suddenly Threaten Ortega’s Family Dynasty

Protests in Nicaragua Suddenly Threaten Ortega’s Family Dynasty
A masked protester walks between burning barricades, Managua, Nicaragua, April 20, 2018 (AP photo by Alfredo Zuniga).

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his inner circle have spent 11 years methodically securing their dominance over all the levers of power in Central America’s poorest country. It seemed that the aging former rebel leader, and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, had little cause to doubt their ability to maintain their grip. That’s why the events of the past few days came as such a shock.

A relatively small protest by college students angry over changes to the social security system suddenly erupted into mass nationwide demonstrations and an explosion of violence that left dozens dead and included calls for Ortega and his wife to be removed from power. For now, the ruling couple remains entrenched, but the wave of protests is evidence of an undercurrent of anger and discontent simmering barely beneath the surface.

Just as importantly, the crisis has exposed cracks in the informal coalition that Ortega, his family and his Sandinista Party loyalists built with Nicaragua’s business community—a reminder that other allies could bolt. For once, the Ortega-Murillo stranglehold looks vulnerable.

Keep reading for free!

Get instant access to the rest of this article as well as three free articles per month. You'll also receive our free email newsletter to stay up to date on all our coverage:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having your own personal researcher and analyst for news and events around the globe. Subscribe now, and you’ll get:

  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of 15,000+ articles
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday
  • Weekly in-depth reports on important issues and countries
  • Daily links to must-read news, analysis, and opinion from top sources around the globe, curated by our keen-eyed team of editors
  • Your choice of weekly region-specific newsletters, delivered to your inbox.
  • Smartphone- and tablet-friendly website.
  • Completely ad-free reading.

And all of this is available to you when you subscribe today.

More World Politics Review