Constitutional reform in Nicaragua extends mandates to seven years

The National Assembly of Nicaragua approved in the first discussion the Law of Partial Reform to the Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua, which extends to seven years the terms of all popularly elected offices and high-ranking state officials. The decision was made on September 1, 2026, during the Third Ordinary Session of the XLII Legislature and was published in La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 163 on September 2, 2026, page 8874.

The initiative, registration number 202610194, was discussed and approved in general and in particular terms in accordance with Article 180 of the Constitution and Article 102 of Law No. 606, Organic Law of the Legislative Power. The certification was signed by the First Secretary of the National Assembly, deputy Loria Raquel Dixon Brautigam, at the Plaza Juan José Quezada in the city of León.

Mandates extended to seven years

The third article of the reform establishes that the term for popularly elected offices and offices elected or ratified by the National Assembly shall be seven years. The measure applies to:

• The Co-President and Co-President of the Republic of Nicaragua.
• Deputies to the National Assembly.
• Deputies to the Central American Parliament.
• Municipal Authorities and Regional Authorities.
• Magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice and the Supreme Electoral Council.
• The Superintendent and the Vice-Superintendent General of Banks and Other Financial Institutions.
• The members of the Superior Council of the Comptroller General of the Republic.

To this end, Articles 122, 123, 130, 132, 142, 143, 150, 155, 164, and 166 of the Constitution are reformed, where “six years” is read as “seven years.” The fourth article extends the term to seven years for the Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces of the Army of Nicaragua and the Chiefs of the Police Forces, reforming by operation of law Law No. 181 and Law No. 872.

Prohibitions for candidates linked to coups d’état

The second article reforms Article 47 of the Constitution, referring to Political Rights, to prevent those who engage in certain behaviors from being candidates for popularly elected offices or holding public offices by appointment:

• Those who exercise or have exercised direction, leadership, financing, or participation in the planning or execution of an attempted coup d’état or a completed coup.
• Those who undermine the Independence, Sovereignty, or Self-Determination of Nicaragua, incite foreign interference, or support blockades and sanctions against the State.
• Traitors to the Homeland.
• Those who violate the fundamental principles of the Constitution.

These individuals will also be unable to join the board of directors of any party or political organization. Article five reforms numerals 1, 12, and 14 of Article 152, empowering the Supreme Electoral Council to deny or cancel the legal status of parties with foreign financing or whose directors have violated constitutional principles.

Validity and Inauguration

Article six sets the inauguration of the Co-President and the Co-Presidenta for January 18, in honor of National Hero Rubén Darío, and reforms Articles 123 and 130. Article seven provides that the terms of the authorities elected in the last general, municipal, and regional elections are extended to seven years, and that in all national legislation on public service where a term is regulated, it shall be understood as reformed by operation of law to seven years.

The law will enter into force upon its publication in La Gaceta once it is approved in the second legislature, at which time the publication of the full text of the Constitution with the incorporated reforms will be ordered.

The reform reconfigures the electoral calendar and the mandates of the entire Nicaraguan political system, affecting everything from the Presidency to the oversight bodies and the financial system. For readers, this implies that the next general, municipal, and regional elections will be held every seven years, with a direct impact on the duration of governments and the eligibility rules for candidates.

Source: La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 163, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, p. 8874 (official reference: initiative with registration number 202610194, “Law of Partial Reform to the Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua”).