In a major blow to judicial independence, President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo have formally subordinated Nicaragua’s courts to the National Police, according to a leaked directive requiring police approval for all court-ordered property seizures, evictions, and arrests related to property crimes. This effectively places law enforcement—led by Ortega’s son-in-law—above the judiciary in enforcing court rulings.
Legal experts denounce the move as unconstitutional and a final step in dissolving the separation of powers. Article 167 of the Nicaraguan Constitution states that court rulings must be unconditionally followed by all state actors—now openly ignored.
Critics warn that the police have become a “political-administrative filter” over justice, enabling selective enforcement of laws based on political loyalty. This policy is part of a wider effort to consolidate control: just days later, the National Assembly approved a Judicial Career Law that abolishes merit-based judicial appointments, transferring full control of hiring and promotions to the executive branch.
This development confirms Nicaragua’s transformation into a regime where the judiciary no longer functions independently, turning courts into instruments of repression and erasing meaningful legal recourse for dissidents and citizens alike.