A Nicaraguan exclusion draft, severe Myanmar sentences and a historic Algerian election show that formal institutions alone do not guarantee participation.
A constitutional amendment drafted by Daniel Ortega and sent to Congress would extend the presidential term from six years to a renewable seven and exclude opponents labeled traitors or coup plotters from elections. Approval is expected in September, so the provision is not yet in force. A 2024 amendment had already moved the term from five to six years and elevated Rosario Murillo's position.[1]
Two courts in Mandalay sentenced eight activists to 37 years each and one to 27 years over a protest calling for a boycott of military-backed elections. The protest occurred in December 2025, and voting ran from 25 December 2025 to 25 January 2026. The activists did not appeal because they believed the verdicts would not change; the military-backed government did not comment in the report.[2]
Khalida Boufedeche became the first woman to lead Algeria's People's National Assembly and the fourth-ranking state official. Yet turnout was a record-low 21 percent, and women hold 25 of 407 seats, about 6 percent. The three countries do not represent one regime or process. Their comparable measure is whom the institution admits as a candidate, dissenter or representative.[3], [1], [2]
