Nicaragua opposition ban plan faces OAS emergency meeting

The Organization of American States voted on Wednesday to call an emergency foreign ministers meeting to discuss Nicaragua's planned constitutional reform that would bar opposition candidates from elections.

Nicaragua's legislature plans to vote on the reform next month. President Daniel Ortega, 80, has been in power since 2006 and governs with his wife, Rosario Murillo.

The OAS is based in Washington and works on development and cooperation in the Americas. As a bloc, it cannot impose economic or trade sanctions, but can issue diplomatic condemnation, suspend a member state or recommend that members punish a country that violates democratic norms.

Nicaragua withdrew from the OAS in 2023. Argentine OAS ambassador Carlos Cherniak said debate on Nicaragua was urgent.