Co-presidents of Nicaragua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Co-Presidents of the Republic of Nicaragua
Coat of arms of Nicaragua
Incumbent Daniel Ortega Rosario Murillo since 10 January 2007 (Ortega) since 18 February 2025 (Murillo)
Residence	Casa Naranja
Seat	Managua
Term length	Six years renewable indefinitely
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Nicaragua
Precursor	Supreme Director of Nicaragua
Formation	April 30, 1854 (171 years ago) (1854-04-30)
First holder	Fruto Chamorro
Deputy	Vice President of Nicaragua
Salary	116,768 Nicaraguan córdobas/US$3,193 per month

The co-presidents of Nicaragua are the leaders of the country of Nicaragua. They act as both the head of state (the main representative of the country) and the head of government (the person in charge of running the government).

The job of president was first created by the Constitution of 1854. Before that, the country's leader had different titles, like "Head of State" or "Supreme Director."

In 2025, a major change happened. The constitution was updated to create a co-presidency. This means that instead of one president, two people share the power. These two co-presidents, one man and one woman, are elected for a six-year term.

When this new rule was made, the president at the time, Daniel Ortega, and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, became the first co-presidents. This made Nicaragua the only country in the world led by a husband and wife team, a system known as a diarchy.

How the Presidency Changed

The rules for being president in Nicaragua have changed over time. In 2014, the constitution was changed to allow a president to be re-elected as many times as they want.

In 2025, more changes were made. The presidential term was extended from five years to six years. This was when the government officially created the co-presidency for Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.

The new rules also set qualifications for who can run for president. Candidates must have lived in Nicaragua for at least six years and can only be Nicaraguan citizens. Certain rules also made it difficult for some opposition leaders to run in elections.

Past Presidents of Nicaragua

Nicaragua has had many leaders since it became a republic in 1854. Here are some of the key presidents from different times in the country's history.

The Somoza Family Era (1937–1979)

For over 40 years, Nicaragua was led by members of the Somoza family.

• Anastasio Somoza García was the first leader from this family. He was president from 1937 to 1947 and again from 1950 until 1956.
• Luis Somoza Debayle, his older son, became president after him and served from 1956 to 1963.
• Anastasio Somoza Debayle, the younger son, was president from 1967 to 1972 and again from 1974 until he was forced to leave the country in 1979. This ended his family's long rule.

The Sandinistas and a New Government

After the Somoza family, a group called the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) took power.

• A group called the Junta of National Reconstruction governed from 1979 to 1985. Daniel Ortega was its main coordinator.
• Daniel Ortega was then elected president and served from 1985 to 1990.

A Shift in Power

In 1990, Nicaragua had an election that brought a new leader.

• Violeta Chamorro became president in 1990. She was the first and only woman to be elected president of Nicaragua on her own. She served until 1997.

Return of Daniel Ortega

After several other presidents, Daniel Ortega returned to power.

• Daniel Ortega was elected president again in 2006 and took office in January 2007. He has been the leader of Nicaragua ever since. In 2025, he became co-president alongside his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Images for kids

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  Joaquín del Cossío was a Supreme Director in 1839.

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  Patricio Rivas served as a Supreme Director and later as a provisional President.

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  Pablo Buitrago was the Supreme Director from 1841 to 1843.

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  José León Sandoval was the Supreme Director from 1845 to 1847.

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  José María Guerrero served as Supreme Director from 1847 to 1849.

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  Norberto Ramírez was the Supreme Director from 1849 to 1851.

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  Laureano Pineda was the last Supreme Director before the title changed to President.

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  Fruto Chamorro was the first President of Nicaragua, starting in 1854.

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  Francisco Castellón was a leader during a period of conflict in the 1850s.

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  José María Estrada was an early president of Nicaragua.

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  William Walker, an American, briefly took control as president in 1856.

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  Tomás Martínez was president for nearly ten years, from 1857 to 1867.

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  Fernando Guzmán Solórzano was president from 1867 to 1871.

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  José Vicente Cuadra served as president from 1871 to 1875.

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  Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Alfaro was president from 1875 to 1879.

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  Joaquín Zavala served as president in the late 19th century.

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  Adán Cárdenas was president from 1883 to 1887.

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  Evaristo Carazo was president from 1887 until his death in 1889.

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  Roberto Sacasa served as president in the late 1880s and early 1890s.

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  Ignacio Chaves Tellería was president for a short time in 1891.

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  Salvador Machado was an acting president in 1893.

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  José Santos Zelaya was president for 16 years, from 1893 to 1909.

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  José Madriz served as acting president from 1909 to 1910.

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  José Dolores Estrada was an acting president in 1910.

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  Luis Mena was an acting president for a few days in 1910.

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  Juan José Estrada was a provisional president from 1910 to 1911.

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  Adolfo Díaz served two separate terms as president.

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  Emiliano Chamorro Vargas was president from 1917 to 1921.

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  Diego Manuel Chamorro was president from 1921 until his death in 1923.

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  Carlos José Solórzano was president from 1925 to 1926.

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  A later photo of Adolfo Díaz.

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  José María Moncada was president from 1929 to 1933.

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  Juan Bautista Sacasa was president from 1933 to 1936.

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  Carlos Alberto Brenes was an acting president from 1936 to 1937.

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  Anastasio Somoza García, who started a long family rule.

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  Víctor Manuel Román y Reyes was president from 1947 to 1950.

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  A later photo of Anastasio Somoza García.

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  Luis Somoza Debayle, son of Anastasio Somoza García.

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  René Schick was president from 1963 until his death in 1966.

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  Lorenzo Guerrero served as president from 1966 to 1967.

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  Anastasio Somoza Debayle, the last president from the Somoza family.

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  Francisco Urcuyo was president for only one day in 1979.

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  Daniel Ortega during his first presidency in the 1980s.

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  Violeta Chamorro, the first woman elected president of Nicaragua.

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  Arnoldo Alemán was president from 1997 to 2002.

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  Enrique Bolaños was president from 2002 to 2007.

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  Daniel Ortega during his second period as president.

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  Rosario Murillo, who became co-president in 2025.

Latest election

See also

In Spanish: Copresidente de Nicaragua para niños

• History of Nicaragua
• List of years in Nicaragua