If this is all, its not that bad. So far, they still have elections. Consider the situation in Venezuela with Chavez. Do you think he'll let himself be voted out of office? My take... No way.
The operative term is 'so far.' I have huge faith in the ability of socialists to come up with reasons not to have elections. As to Chavez, I agree. It will take force to make him lose his death grip on Venezuela. He's worse than Ortega, who at least pretended he had an interest in democracy, which was of course, his undoing.