| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
6 November 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
President Daniel Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) took 70 of 90 seats at stake in the 92-member National Assembly (see note 1). The Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), which allied with the FSLN in the outgoing legislature, took 13 seats, up from 2 previously. The 2016 elections followed the dismissal of 28 opposition members (16 titular members and 12 substitutes) from the outgoing National Assembly, and were boycotted by the opposition (see note 2).
President Ortega was re-elected for a third consecutive term (see note 3). His wife, Ms. Rosario Murillo, became Vice President (see note 4). They were sworn in on 10 January 2017. During the election campaign, the FSLN promised to work for peace, stability and the security of Nicaraguan families. A 50-per cent quota for each sex, introduced by the 2012 amendments to the electoral law, was applied for the first time in the 2016 elections. 42 women were elected, up from 37 in 2011.
Note 1:
In addition to the 90 elected members, one seat is reserved for the runner-up in the presidential election and a second seat goes to the immediate past President of the country or his/her deputy. Mr. Maximino Rodríguez (PLC) took the first seat. Since President Ortega was re-elected in 2016, his deputy, Mr. Moisés Omar Halleslevens Acevedo (FSLN), took the second seat.
Note 2:
Prior to the 2016 elections, Mr. Eduardo Montealegre, President of the Liberal Independent Party (PLI), formed the National Coalition for Democracy (CND) to run for the 2016 presidential elections. On 8 June 2016, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) issued a ruling that removed Mr. Montealegre as the PLI's legal representative and replaced him with Mr. Pedro Reyes. On 17 June, the CSJ disqualified all CND candidates, including Mr. Montealegre, from the 2016 elections. Other opposition candidates withdrew in protest, leaving President Ortega as the only candidate from a major party in the presidential race. Mr. Reyes subsequently expelled the 28 PLI MPs (16 titular and 12 substitutes), including Mr. Montealegre, from the party. On 28 July, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) terminated their parliamentary mandates. On 15 August, the CND called for a boycott of the presidential and parliamentary elections and subsequently asked the Court of Appeal to invalidate the CSE decision. On 12 September, the CSJ rejected the appeal. PLI members loyal to Mr. Reyes participated in the 2016 elections and took two seats.
Note 3:
In January 2014, the National Assembly approved constitutional amendments that removed the previous two-term limit and allowed for indefinite presidential re-election. The amendments also scrapped the previous rule that the winning candidate needs to receive at least 35% of the vote to be elected president.
Note 4:
Article 147 of the Constitution bars those related to the president either by blood or affinity from being a candidate for president or vice president but lawmakers differ over the definition of the affinity relationship. |
Date of previous elections: 6 November 2011
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 15 December 2016
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: November 2021
Number of seats at stake: 90 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: Not available.
Percentage of women candidates: Not available.
Number of parties contesting the election: Not available.
Number of parties winning seats: 7
Alternation of power: No
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 9 January 2017
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Gustavo Eduardo Porras Cortés (Sandinista National Liberation Front, FSLN)
|
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 6 November 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal and Constitutionalist Party (PLC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal Independent Party (PLI) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| YATAMA ("Sons of Mother Earth") |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Alliance for the Republic (APRE) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Conservative Party (PC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) |
70
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal and Constitutionalist Party (PLC) |
13
|
|
|
|
|
| Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN) |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal Independent Party (PLI) |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| YATAMA ("Sons of Mother Earth") |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Alliance for the Republic (APRE) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Conservative Party (PC) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
50
42
45.65%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
National Assembly (05.12.2016)
http://www.cse.gob.ni/
https://www.facebook.com/partidoliberalconstitucionalista/?ref=page_internal
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni
http://www.reuters.com
http://www.bbc.com/
http://www.usatoday.com/
Note on the "Distribution of seats":
The "Distribution of seats" above refers to the 90 directly-elected members. The "Distribution of seats according to sex" includes the two non-elected members: the runner-up in the presidential election and the immediate past vice-president; both men. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
