| 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) |
9 March 2014 |
| Purpose of elections |
According to the preliminary results, the National Unity coalition retained the majority in both houses of Congress. It took a total of 119 seats in the 166-member House of Representatives and 66 seats in the 102-member Senate. The coalition comprises President Juan Manuel Santos Social Party of National Unity (Partido de la U), the Conservative Party (CP), the Liberal Party (PL) and the Radical Change (RC). The Democratic Centre, led by former President Álvaro Uribe, took 12 seats in the House and 19 in the Senate.
The ongoing peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were a central issue in the election campaign. In November 2013, the government started peace talks with the FARC, while stating that its military operations would continue until a final deal was reached. Former President Uribes Democratic Centre campaigned under the slogan "No to impunity", opposing any peace agreement that would grant amnesty to FARC members or allow them to enter politics.
In the run-off presidential elections held on 15 June, President Santos was re-elected President for a second term, defeating Mr. Óscar Iván Zuluaga (Democratic Centre). |
Date of previous elections: 14 March 2010
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: March 2018
Number of seats at stake: 102 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 773
Percentage of women candidates: Not available.
Number of parties contesting the election: 23
Number of parties winning seats: 10
Alternation of power: No
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 20 July 2014
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. José David Name Cardozo (Partido de la U) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 9 March 2014 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
32'835'856
14'310'367 (43.58%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Social Party of National Unity (Partido de la U) |
21
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Centre |
20
|
|
|
|
|
| Conservative Party (PC) |
18
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal Party (PL) |
17
|
|
|
|
|
| Radical Change (RC) |
9
|
|
|
|
|
| Citizens' Option Party (POC) |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| Green Party |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| Alternative Democratic Pole |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| Independent Social Alliance Party (ASI) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement (MAIS) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
79
23
22.55%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
Senate (24.07.2014)
http://www.senado.gov.co/images/stories/pdfs/2014/Senadores_2014_-_2018.pdf
http://www.registraduria.gov.co |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
