| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congreso / Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senado de la República / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara de Representantes / House of Representatives
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
12 March 2006 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all seats in the Senate on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
Parliamentary elections were held for all seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate on 12 March 2006
two months prior to the presidential elections.
A new party
the Social Party of National Unity
was formed to support President Alvaro Uribe
who was able to run for a second term following a constitutional amendment. Its partners were the Conservative Party and Radical Change
with Team Colombia and the Democratic Party also allied to the presidential camp. The opposition Liberal Party (PL)
led by former president Cesar Gaviria
had won the most seats in both chambers in the 2002 elections.
The main issues in the 2006 elections were how to deal with the rebel group
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). President Uribe had implemented tough policies against the FARC and other paramilitary groups
while also introducing a law granting them certain concessions. The Justice and Peace Law
passed by Congress in June 2005
protects the paramilitaries from extradition on drug charges in exchange for their admission of drug trafficking. While President Uribe's allies argued that the law would pacify the country
the Liberal Party and the Alternative Democratic Pole strongly opposed it. The opposition parties also campaigned against the President's support for a market-friendly economy and close ties with the United States
in particular through the CAFTA.
Violence was rife during the electoral campaign. The FARC conducted numerous attacks
including reportedly some 40 assassinations
and urged voters not to go to the polls. As at the previous elections
turnout remained low
at just above 40 per cent of the 26.5 million eligible voters.
The final results gave a resounding victory to the Social Party of National Unity and its allies. Together
they secured 96 seats in the House of Representatives and 61 seats in the Senate
while the main opposition parties respectively won 42 and 28 seats. Other seats went to independent candidates and small parties.
In the presidential elections held on 28 May 2006
President Uribe was re-elected with 62 per cent of the vote.
The newly-elected Congress held its first session on 20 July 2006. Mr. Alfredo Ape Cuello Baute of the Conservative Party was elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives while the Senate elected Ms. Dilian Francisca Toro of the Social Party of National Unity as its new Speaker. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 12 March 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
26'595'171
10'780'668 (40.54%)
1'390'260
9'390'408 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Social Party of National Unity (Partido de la U) |
|
1'642'256 |
|
|
17.49 |
|
|
| Conservative Party |
|
1'514'960 |
|
|
16.13 |
|
|
| Liberal Party (PL) |
|
1'457'332 |
|
|
15.52 |
|
|
| Radical Change |
|
1'254'294 |
|
|
13.36 |
|
|
| Alternative Democratic Pole |
|
914'964 |
|
|
9.74 |
|
|
| Popular Civic Convergence (CPC) |
|
586'870 |
|
|
6.25 |
|
|
| Team Colombia |
|
439'678 |
|
|
4.68 |
|
|
| Democratic Party |
|
267'336 |
|
|
2.85 |
|
|
| Mira Movement |
|
220'395 |
|
|
2.35 |
|
|
| Viva Movement |
|
231'307 |
|
|
2.46 |
|
|
| Indigenous Social Alliance |
|
44'557 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Social Party of National Unity (Partido de la U) |
20
|
|
|
|
|
| Conservative Party |
18
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal Party (PL) |
17
|
|
|
|
|
| Radical Change |
15
|
|
|
|
|
| Alternative Democratic Pole |
11
|
|
|
|
|
| Popular Civic Convergence (CPC) |
7
|
|
|
|
|
| Team Colombia |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Party |
3
|
|
|
|
|
| Mira Movement |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Viva Movement |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Indigenous Social Alliance |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
90
12
11.76%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
- http://www.registraduria.gov.co/
- http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw37/responses/colombia.pdf (p22) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
