By Gabriela Selser
(Reuters) – The Nicaraguan parliament, dominated by the ruling Sandinista Front, on Friday approved a constitutional reform that hands more power to President Daniel Ortega as well as the Central American nation’s police and military.
The reform, which 79-year-old Ortega sent to Congress on Tuesday “as a matter of urgency” was approved unanimously by 91 lawmakers.
After passing the reform in general terms, legislators proceeded to review each of the 15 articles included in it.
According to the Nicaraguan constitution, reforms must be approved in a second legislative period, in this case in 2025, before they become effective.
The reform increases the executive’s control over the media, extends the presidential term to six years from five and creates the new positions of “co-presidents.”
Government critics have said the reforms would legalize the “absolute power” already exercised for years by Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, his wife.
The Organization of American States, a regional diplomatic body, has said that through this measure Ortega and Murillo intend to “increase their absolute control of the state and maintain their position in power.”
(Reporting by Gabriela Selser; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer)
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