International

The constitutional reform that gives full power to Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in Nicaragua comes into force

Nicaragua put into effect this Wednesday a reform to the Political Constitution that transforms the State, eliminates the balance of powers, and grants total power to the president of the country, Daniel Ortega, and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, who now has the position of “co-president”.

The constitutional reform, which has been harshly criticized by the UN, the Organization of American States (OAS), the United States, the European Parliament and Nicaraguan opponents, came into force after being published in the Official Journal, La Gaceta, and 19 days after being approved in the second and final legislature.

The constitutional norm extends the presidential period from five to six years, establishes the figure of “co-president”, that the Executive “coordinates” the other “organs” of the State, which are no longer called powers, and legalizes statelessness.

In addition, they create the “military forces of patriotic reserve” and the “voluntary police” which, according to the opponents, would be parapolice and paramilitary forces.

The legislators reformed 148 of the 198 articles of the Magna Carta and repealed 37 others, including the one that prohibited the practice of torture.

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The amendment establishes that Nicaragua is a “revolutionary” state, free, sovereign, independent, which recognizes the person, the family and the community as protagonists of “direct democracy”, that the revolutionary power is exercised by the people directly, and the people exercise the power of the State through the Presidency of the Republic that directs the Government and coordinates the legislative, judicial, electoral, accounts’s prosecutor’s office and autonomous entities.

The Presidency will lead the Government and as Head of State will coordinate the legislative, judicial, electoral, control and regional and municipal bodies, according to the rule.

Also that the Presidency is the Supreme Headquarters of the Nicaraguan Army, the National Police and the Ministry of the Interior.
In addition, the Presidency will be composed of a co-president and a co-president, who will exercise their functions for a period of six years, and may appoint vice-presidents without being elected by the popular vote.

It also includes as a national symbol the flag of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), a party in the Government since 2007.
The Presidency may also order the intervention of the Nicaraguan Army in support of the National Police, when the stability of the Republic so requires.

It also creates “the military forces of patriotic reserve, as part of the Nicaraguan Army, which will be voluntarily composed of officers, officials, non-commissioned officers, class, soldiers and sailors who have passed to the honorable condition of retirement or discharge.”

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It also creates the volunteer police as an auxiliary and support body for the National Police, made up of Nicaraguans “who provide their services on a voluntary basis”.

Despite the fact that the figure of volunteer police did not exist in the Constitution, Ortega said in September 2022 that the Army, the Police and the “voluntary police” helped restore “peace” in Nicaragua after the popular revolt that broke out in April 2018 due to controversial social security reforms and that left hundreds dead.

According to humanitarian and opposition agencies, these armed civilians are “parapolice and paramilitary groups” who acted with the acquiescence of the State in the so-called ‘Operation Cleaning’ with which the Government neutralized the demonstrations against them.

The State of Nicaragua will also ensure that the social media are not “subjected” to foreign interests or disseminate false news that violates the rights of Nicaraguans.

Ortega, 79 years old and in power since 2007, has ruled Nicaragua since 2017 together with his wife Murillo amid allegations of electoral fraud or eliminating the opposition to have no competition.

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Ortega has asked to reform the Constitution on 12 occasions since 2007, including one that allows him to be re-elected indefinitely.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”