The National Assembly of Nicaragua unanimously approved a constitutional reform that bans opposition participation in elections. One day after this approval, the United States urged its international partners to sever ties with the Central American country.
The statement was released by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called on allies to "immediately cease normal operations" with what he called the "brutal dictatorship" of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and co-president, Rosario Murillo.
In his statement, Rubio wrote that "dictatorships that deny the inalienable rights of their citizens should not enjoy the same economic or political benefits as governments committed to defending hemispheric peace and security." The text also mentions that the reform approved by Nicaragua's National Assembly banned the participation of numerous opposition groups in elections.
