Rubio calls for isolation of Nicaragua after parliament votes to ban opposition parties

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega rebuffed recent criticism from Washington, dismissing U.S. pressure as interference in the country’s internal affairs. The president’s response came as the Nicaraguan legislature moves forward with a constitutional amendment that would lengthen presidential terms from five to seven years, a change that has drawn international scrutiny.

The amendment still requires a second vote in the National Assembly before it can be enacted, with the final approval slated for January. If passed, the reform would extend the tenure of the incumbent president and his successors, reshaping the nation’s political timeline and prompting further observation from foreign governments and regional observers.