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This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Nicaragua from 1985 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Nicaragua, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.
Sandinista leader who took part in the 1979 revolution and was elected president in 1984; he lost to Violeta Chamorro in 1990, returned to office in January 2007, and has been co-president since February 2025.
Defeated Ortega in the 1990 election, the first woman elected president in Nicaragua, and oversaw the end of the Contra war.
Former mayor of Managua who was later convicted of corruption.
Businessman who served as Alemán's vice president before winning the 2001 election.
Ortega's wife, vice president from 2017 until the February 2025 reform made her co-president alongside him.
The current president of Nicaragua is Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo (co-presidents), in office since 2007 for Ortega and 2025 for Murillo. Since a constitutional reform published on 18 February 2025, Nicaragua has been led by two co-presidents, Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, each of whom is listed separately on this page. The reform also lengthened the presidential term to six years. The next election is scheduled for November 2027, although a further amendment approved in a first vote on 1 September 2026 would move it to November 2028.
The presidents and heads of state of Nicaragua listed on this page, in order, are: Daniel Ortega, Violeta Chamorro, Arnoldo Alemán, Enrique Bolaños, Rosario Murillo.
Sources: Wikipedia, Co-presidents of Nicaragua; Confidencial, La Prensa and Rio Times reporting on the 2025 constitutional reform and the 2026 amendment, including October 2026 coverage (checked Nov 2026). Shows the five leaders since 1985; Ortega's two periods are combined in one entry.. Last reviewed November 2026.
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