Critics and human rights advocates argue that the abolition of elections is the final step in the creation of a hereditary family dynasty that has completely abandoned democratic principles. By removing the possibility of a peaceful transfer of power, the regime has effectively turned the country into a private enterprise where the Ortega-Murillo family extracts public resources for personal and dynastic benefit. This move is seen not as a sign of strength, but as a confession of fear—a recognition that the regime lacks the popular support to survive even a rigged electoral process.
Accountability-focused observers point out that this consolidation violates international human rights treaties, including the right to participate in public affairs. The systematic dismantling of the judiciary and the subordination of the military have left citizens with no legal recourse against state abuses. The regime’s use of 'traitor' labels to strip opponents of their citizenship and property is viewed as a tool of terror designed to silence any form of dissent, forcing thousands into exile and creating a climate of fear that stifles civil society.
Economists and political analysts warn that this path leads to long-term stagnation and isolation. By cutting ties with democratic norms and relying on a narrow circle of loyalists, the regime risks further economic degradation and international sanctions. The transition to a dynastic model, with potential succession plans involving the couple's children, is seen as a dangerous gamble that could eventually trigger internal fractures within the military or the ruling party, as the institutional professionalism of the state continues to be hollowed out for the sake of family control.