Chamber:
	Asamblea Nacional
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	25 February 1990
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament following premature dissolution of this body. General elections had previously been held in November 1984.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The parliamentary elections would normally have been held in November 1990, but in February 1989 President Daniel Ortega Saavedra announced that, based on consultation with opposition groups, they could take place earlier, in February. National Assembly candidates were to register by 29 September 1989, and voter registration took place the next month. The electoral campaign lasted from 4 December 1989 to 21 February 1990. Assembly polling was held simultaneously with that for President and Vice-President of the Republic and municipal posts. Primary challenger to the ruling (since the 1979 revolution) Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) was the National Opposition Union (UNO), a fractious alliance of 14 parties ranging from far right to far left. Major campaign issues concerned the armed struggle against "contra" forces and the country’s economic problems (inflation, unemployment, falling wages, etc.). The left-wing Sandinistas pledged to end the civil war and rebuild the economy under the slogan "everything will be better". UNO, whose presidential candidate was Mrs. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, promised for its part to end the war and the military draft, privatize State-controlled concerns and return confiscated land and property to its owners. Polling day was marked by a high voter turnout and monitored by teams of international observers. Mrs. Chamorro and Mr. V. Godoy, her running mate for Vice-President, swept to a decisive victory as the mainly centre-right UNO also triumphed in the parliamentary races with 51 of the 92 seats. A number of observers interpreted this vote as one as much against the dire economic conditions as for the opposition. On 26 February, outgoing President Ortega conceded defeat, noting that he would "respect and obey the popular mandate". The new National Assembly was sworn in on 24 April, and the President and Vice-President the next day; Mrs. Chamorro heads an 11-member Cabinet.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (25 February 1990): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,752,088
Voters	1,512,107 (86.3%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	92,723
Valid votes	1,419,384

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes
National Opposition Union (UNO)	764,748
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)	579,723
Nicaraguan Social Christian Party (PSC)	22,218
Revolutionary Unity Movement (MUR)	13,995

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
National Opposition Union (UNO)	51
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)	39
Nicaraguan Social Christian Party (PSC)	1
Revolutionary Unity Movement (MUR)	1

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	77
Women:	15