Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega attended a public event Monday, 68 days after his previous appearance, official coverage showed, as lawmakers advanced changes to the country’s executive branch.
During his absence, the National Assembly gave first-round approval to a constitutional reform that would eliminate the vice presidency and create presidential designees. A separate constitutional change had established the co-presidency 20 months earlier. Nicaraguan Co-President Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s wife, joined him at Monday’s event, along with Sandinista Youth members and relatives.
The gathering in Managua honored Carlos Fonseca, who helped found the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front. Ortega made a brief statement at the tribute. He turns 81 Wednesday.
Ortega’s previous public appearance was Sept. 2 at an event marking the Army’s anniversary. The latest interval exceeded a 61-day absence in 2024 recorded by Confidencial and was his longest since he returned to the presidency in 2007.
Neither Ortega nor Murillo has offered a public explanation. The government has not explained Ortega’s absences or provided a public account of his health.
