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In November 2016, [[Nicaraguan general election, 2016|Ortega was elected for his third consecutive term]] (his fourth overall). International monitoring of the elections was initially prohibited, and as a result the validity of the [[Elections in Nicaragua|elections]] has been disputed, but observation by the [[Organization of American States|OAS]] was announced in October.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Geoff|first1=Thale|title=As Nicaragua's Election Draws Near, Concerns Grow Over Abuse of Power|url=https://www.wola.org/analysis/nicaraguas-election-draws-near-concerns-grow-abuse-power/|access-date=13 January 2018|publisher=WOLA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=OAS Mission in Nicaragua Recommends Integral Electoral Reform|url=http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-079/17|access-date=13 January 2018|agency=Organization of American States|date=November 7, 2016}}</ref> Ortega was reported by Nicaraguan election officials as having received 72% of the vote. However the [[Broad Front for Democracy]] (FAD), having promoted boycotts of the elections, claimed that 70% of voters had abstained (while election officials claimed 65.8% participation).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37892477|title=Nicaragua's Ortega re-elected president|date=2016-11-07|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-09-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In April 2018, [[2018–2020 Nicaraguan protests|demonstrations]] opposed a decree increasing taxes and reducing benefits in the country's pension system. Local independent press organizations had documented at least 19 dead and over 100 missing in the ensuing conflict.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://confidencial.com.ni/quienes-son-muertos-de-las-protestas-en-nicaragua/|title=Los muertos de la represión que Daniel Ortega oculta|last=Cerda|first=Arlen|date=2018-04-22|work=Confidencial|access-date=2018-04-25|language=es-NI}}</ref> A reporter from NPR spoke to protestors who explained that while the initial issue was about the pension reform, the uprisings that spread across the country reflected many grievances about the government's time in office, and that the fight is for President Ortega and his vice president wife to step down.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Carrie|title=Nicaragua Withdraws Social Security Changes That Sparked Unrest|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/04/23/604854250/nicaragua-withdraws-social-security-changes-that-sparked-unrest|access-date=31 May 2018|publisher=NPR|date=April 23, 2018|language=en}}</ref> April 24, 2018 marked the day of the greatest march in opposition of the Sandinista party. On May 2, 2018, university-student leaders publicly announced that they give the government seven days to set a date and time for a dialogue that was promised to the people due to the recent events of repression. The students also scheduled another march on that same day for a peaceful protest. As of May 2018, estimates of the death toll were as high as 63, many of them student protesters, and the wounded totalled more than 400.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Garvin|first1=Glenn|title=In Nicaragua, the political battle is moving from the streets to the negotiating table|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article210129639.html|access-date=May 2, 2018|work=Miami Herald|date=May 2, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Following a working visit from May 17 to 21, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights adopted precautionary measures aimed at protecting members of the student movement and their families after testimonies indicated the majority of them had suffered acts of violence and death threats for their participation.<ref>{{cite news|title=CIDH condena nuevos hechos de violencia en Nicaragua|url=http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2018/116.asp|access-date=26 May 2018|work=www.oas.org|agency=Inter-American Commission on Human Rights|publisher=Organization of American States|date=25 May 2018|language=es}}</ref> In the last week of May, thousands who accuse Mr. Ortega and his wife of acting like dictators joined in resuming anti-government rallies after attempted peace talks have remained unresolved.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nicaraguan protesters call on Ortega to go|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-44269498|access-date=27 May 2018|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=27 May 2018}}</ref>
US sanctions continue also in 2020 due to violations of human rights. In December 2020 Ortegas ruling party-dominated congress passed a law that would essentially ban opposition candidates from running in the 2021 presidential elections.
The law gives the government of President Daniel Ortega the power to unilaterally declare citizens “terrorists” or coup-mongers, classify them as “traitors to the homeland” and ban them from running as candidates.
Ortega, meanwhile 75 years old, is expected to run again for elections on Nov. 7, 2021. <ref>{{cite news|title=Nicaragua essentially bans opposition from 2021 elections|url=https://apnews.com/article/elections-blockades-central-america-daniel-ortega-nicaragua-14d04033e443f6da9bf3d11aec0dae47|access-date=January 3, 2021|publisher=AP News|date=December 21, 2020|language=en}}</ref>
== Geography and climate ==
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