President 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 30 January 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 (to 2025)
Salary	116,768 Nicaraguan córdobas/US$3,193 per month

The co-presidents of Nicaragua (Spanish: Co-presidentes de Nicaragua) are the main leaders of Nicaragua. They are both the head of state and the head of government. This means they lead the country and its government.

The idea of this leadership role started in 1854. Before that, from 1825 to 1839, the leader was called the Head of State. From 1839 to 1854, the title changed to Supreme Director.

In 2025, Nicaragua's laws were updated. Now, two co-presidents share the powers of the presidency. One co-president is a man, and the other is a woman. They are chosen by the people in an election for a six-year term. When this change happened, Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, became the first co-presidents. Daniel Ortega had been president since 2007.

How the Co-Presidency Works
Nicaragua's Past Leaders
- Early Leaders (1822–1854)
- Presidents of the Republic (1854–2025)
Current Co-Presidents
Images for kids
See also

How the Co-Presidency Works

In 2009, a court in Nicaragua said that the president could run for re-election right away. Later, in 2014, the country's main assembly changed the rules. This allowed the president to serve for an unlimited number of five-year terms.

In 2025, the assembly made another change. They made the presidential term six years long. They also named Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo as co-presidents. The new rules say that a male and a female co-president are elected by the people.

To be a co-president, candidates must have lived in Nicaragua for at least six years before the election. They must also only have Nicaraguan citizenship.

Nicaragua's Past Leaders

Nicaragua has had many different leaders throughout its history. Before the co-presidency, the country was led by a single president.

Early Leaders (1822–1854)

In the early days, when Nicaragua was part of a larger Central American group, its leaders were called "Heads of State." Later, they were known as "Supreme Directors." These leaders helped shape the country in its first years.

Fruto Chamorro was the first President of Nicaragua in 1854.

Presidents of the Republic (1854–2025)

After 1854, the main leader of Nicaragua became known as the "President of the Republic." Many different people served in this role. They came from various political groups, like the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. These presidents led Nicaragua through many important times, including periods of peace and conflict.

Some presidents served multiple times. Others were acting leaders for short periods. This long list of leaders shows the changing political landscape of Nicaragua over more than a century.

Current Co-Presidents

Today, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo serve as the co-presidents. Daniel Ortega first became president in 1985. He served until 1990. He was elected again in 2007 and has been in power since then. Rosario Murillo, his wife, became vice-president in 2017. In 2025, she became co-president alongside him.