MANAGUA, (Reuters) – Nicaraguan President Daniel  Ortega issued a decree on Saturday that could extend the terms  of electoral officials supporting his controversial bid for  re-election in 2011, a move the opposition says oversteps his  powers.

Nicaragua’s Congress is charged with appointing electoral  authorities, but lawmakers — split between backers of Ortega’s  leftist Sandinista party and right-wing opponents — have been  unable to agree on whether the officials should be replaced.

Ortega’s decree stipulates that the current electoral  tribunal will remain in place if Congress fails to decide by  February who should sit on the panel.

The electoral authorities supported a Supreme Court  decision last October that would allow Ortega — a former  guerrilla and U.S. foe — to run again for president.