Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said that elections will no longer be held in the country, Reuters reports.

This rules out the possibility of challenging the election results after his term expires next year and further strengthens the rule he shares with his wife.

“There will be no more elections here, so that parties backed by the Yankees (the United States) and the Somocistas cannot seize power in the country,” Ortega said.

The last elections in Nicaragua in 2021 sparked widespread controversy after Ortega detained opponents and business leaders, and also criminalized dissent.

Last year, he further consolidated his power through a series of constitutional reforms, extending the presidential term to six years. He and his wife control virtually all aspects of government, including the armed forces and the judiciary.