Daniel Ortega’s new constitutional reform is backed by the Chinese ambassador

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According to a report by Swissinfo, following the announcement by Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega, regarding the new constitutional reform that will come into effect and grant him and his wife, the nation’s co-president, total power in the country—thus eliminating the balance of powers—the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Managua, Chen Xi, endorsed this reform.

Likewise, during an official event, a Chinese diplomat stated that he “wanted to salute the Nicaraguan people for the recent publication of the Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua, unanimously approved by the legislators of the National Assembly,” according to the country’s official portal, El 19.

Similarly, the Chinese ambassador, Chen Xi, declared that this would be “a revolutionary and democratic Constitution, a Constitution that further strengthens and consolidates the rights to education, health, security, well-being, and all the rights that belong to the honorable Nicaraguan people.” Additionally, he sent a greeting to the president and co-president of the country, praising their determination and responsibility in leading the nation, which, according to the ambassador, will guide Nicaragua toward an exceptional future.

This constitutional reform came into effect in mid-February 2025 and has since been highly criticized by the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations (UN), several government opponents within the country, and the European Parliament.

The main changes introduced by this amendment include the extension of the presidential term, the establishment of the co-president position, and the centralization of executive coordination over other branches, as it also removes the designation of “powers.” Additionally, it legalizes statelessness and creates the Patriotic Reserve Military Forces and the Volunteer Police, which, according to critics, would function as paramilitary and parapolice groups. Moreover, the presidency assumes supreme command over the country’s army, national police, and interior ministry.

At Ortega’s request, legislators modified 148 of the 198 articles enshrined in the nation’s supreme law and repealed 37 others, including the prohibition of torture. Furthermore, the amendment establishes Nicaragua as a revolutionary, free, independent, and sovereign state, defining the people as the main actors in direct democracy, in which they will exercise power through the Presidency of the Republic, responsible for coordinating the legislative, electoral, and judicial branches, along with the attorney general’s office and autonomous entities.

Additionally, the flag of the Sandinista National Liberation Front will be included as a national symbol.Likewise, the Nicaraguan state will oversee the country’s media to prevent their potential “submission” to foreign interests and the spread of false news that could harm the people. Last but not least, Ortega, who has been in power since 2007 and has governed alongside his wife since 2017, has been repeatedly accused of electoral fraud and the elimination of political opposition, allowing his party to be the only one with a real chance of winning elections.

Main Source:

Embajador chino saluda reforma constitucional que da poder total a Ortega en Nicaragua – Swiss Info

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