After the failure last year of yet another attempt to incite a coup in Nicaragua, the US is now attempting to use the Organization of American States to seek the removal of the elected government there. Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter authorizes consideration of the internal affairs of another member nation only "in the event of an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order in a member state."
Nicaragua's sitting government was duly elected in open elections under international monitoring. All reports were that the elections were free and fair. The President in the last past election (2016) won by a majority of more than 72%. The National Assembly shows similarly strong support (65+%) for the majority Sandinistas (FSLN). The constitutional order remains in effect.
Nevertheless, this past December 28th, the US - through the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro - requested an urgent meeting of the Permanent Council with the purpose of acting under Article 20 of the Democratic Charter against Nicaragua, claiming that there has been an alteration of the constitutional order.
We discussed the matter with the Foreign Minister of Nicargua, Denis Moncada, via Skype from Managua, Wednesday.