Ortega has been dismantling democracy for more than a decade. He is emboldened by impunity.

"They are testing the limits of how far they can push," said AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth to The Wall Street Journal.

Reforms and a fractured opposition only make it easier for Daniel Ortega to secure a fifth term as president in November.

Although a presidential election is scheduled for November 7 in Nicaragua, it is unlikely to be free or fair.

Nine Latin American countries hold elections this year, with five—Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru—selecting presidents.

From an absent president to illegal fishing to agro-tech, AS/COA Online dives into under-covered—but important—issues facing Latin America in a year of competing headlines.

From a daily tracker of cases in Latin America, to podcasts and online events with public health experts, AS/COA is monitoring the novel coronavirus and its impact on the region.