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VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
Asamblea Nacional (National Assembly)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly
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Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1926 - 1933
1959 -
LEADERSHIP
President Omar Barboza (M) 
Notes Elected on 5 Jan. 2018.
Secretary General Ernesto Vásquez Iriarte (M) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 167 / 167
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 37 (22.16%)
Mode of designation directly elected 164
other 3
Notes Other: three seats are reserved for indigenous people of Venezuela.
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 6 December 2015
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Asamblea Nacional
Administrativa:
Edificio José María Vargas,
Esquina de Pajaritos.
Caracas, 1010.
Venezuela

Sede de las Plenarias :
Palacio Federal Legislativo,
Esquinas Monjas a San Francisco.
Av. Universidad. Caracas, 1010.
Venezuela
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (58 212) 409 7022
409 7025
483 3664
483 2995
483 4690
483 4761
483 3949
Fax (58 212) 409 70 29
409 70 38
E-mail relacionesinternacionales@an.gob.ve
Website
http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 13 December 1997
Last amendment: 25.06.2015
Mode of designation directly elected 164
other 3
Constituencies For the 113 majority seats
There are 24 constituencies, including:
- 23 multi-member member constituencies, comprising between 2 and 12 seats (for 112 seats);
- 1 single-member constituency.

For the 51 proportional representation seats
There are 24 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the states and the Federal District, as below:
- 21 two-member constituencies (42 seats);
- 3 three-member constituencies (9 seats).
Voting system Mixed: - 113 members are elected under the majority system
- 51 others elected under the proportional representation system using closed party lists; seats are allocated according to the d'Hondt method.
In addition, three seats are reserved for the indigenous community. They are filled by separate elections.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by the "next in line" candidate on the same party list.
Voting is compulsory, except in certain specific cases.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years
- Venezuelan citizens and non-citizens who have lived in Venezuela for over 10 years before the election.
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - qualified elector
- age: 21 years
- Venezuelan citizenship by birth or naturalisation, with a minimum of 15 years residence in the country
- Residence in the region for four consecutive years.
Incompatibilities - President of the Republic, Executive Vice-President, Ministers, Secretary to the Presidency, director of autonomous institute or of State enterprise, up to three months after separation from any such office
- Governors and secretaries of Governor's Offices, of states and similarly ranking authorities of the Capital City District up to three months after separation from such office
- Municipal, State and national officials, and those from autonomous institutes, when the election is held in their jurisdictions, except in cases where the position is temporary or subordinate or for teaching or academic purposes.
Candidacy requirements - candidatures must be submitted independently on the individual's own initiative
- submitted by a political party
- candidates must be enrolled on the electoral register
- submitted by a number of citizens equal to had required by the Constitution or political party
- The list of both titular and substitute candidates under both systems (majority and proportional representation) must meet a 50-per cent quota with a zebra-system (alternation between men and women). In cases where a party cannot ensure parity, the proportion of its candidates of either sex cannot be lower than 40% or higher than 60%.

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 6 December 2015
Timing and scope of renewal The centre-right Democratic Unity Roundtable alliance (MUD) took just over two-thirds of seats (see note 1) in the 167-member National Assembly, ahead of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the leftist government in power since 1999. The elections were held amid economic crisis, with the inflation rate reaching nearly 160%. During the election campaign, the PSUV ran on the government record. The MUD promised to put an end to nationalizations and to encourage foreign investment.

The 2015 elections were the first to be held since the death of President Hugo Chávez in March 2013. Vice President Nicolás Maduro officially succeeded him one month later, after narrowly defeating Mr. Henrique Capriles (MUD) in the snap presidential elections. The gender parity law was applied for the first time to the 2015 elections (see note 2). However, only 24 women (14.37%) were elected in 2015, down from 28 women of 165 members (16.97%) in 2010, because the law came into force in June 2015 after several parties had already completed their party primaries for the 2015 elections.

Note 1:
The MUD won 109 seats. In addition, three indigenous representatives were allied to the MUD, giving it 112 seats in all. The MUD was established by 11 opposition parties prior to the 2010 parliamentary elections. Its leadership includes several key opposition figures, including Mr. Capriles (Governor of Miranda), Mr. Antonio Ledezma (Mayor of Caracas, arrested in February 2015 over an alleged coup plot against President Maduro), Ms. María Corina Machado (former MP indicted in December 2014 for an alleged plot to kill the President) and Mr. Leopoldo López (opposition leader, jailed in 2014 for incitement to violence). Mr. López' wife, Ms. Lilian Tintori, became a figurehead for the MUD's 2015 election campaign.

Note 2:
The list of titular and substitute candidates under both systems (majority and proportional representation) must meet a 50 per cent quota with a zebra-system (alternation between men and women). In cases where a party cannot ensure parity, the proportion of its candidates of either sex cannot be lower than 40% or higher than 60%. However, the law came into force in June 2015 after several parties had already completed their party primaries for the 2015 elections.
Date of previous elections: 26 September 2010

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 5 January 2016

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: December 2019

Number of seats at stake: 167 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 1,799 (1,128 men, 671 women)

Percentage of women candidates: 37.3%

Number of parties contesting the election: 96 organizations, including 29 indigenous groups. Most organizations were a part of the MUD or the PSUV.

Number of parties winning seats: 2 coalitions*
*In addition, three representatives of indigenous people of Venezuela were elected.

Alternation of power: not applicable*
*presidential system

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 5 January 2016

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Henry Ramos Allup (Democratic Unity Roundtable alliance, MUD)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 16 December 2015
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
19'504'106


Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Democratic Unity Roundtable alliance (MUD)
United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Democratic Unity Roundtable alliance (MUD) 109
United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) 55
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
143

24

14.37%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
National Assembly (18.12.2015, 01.01.2017)
http://www.cne.gob.ve/resultado_asamblea2015/r/0/reg_000000.html
http://www.eleccionesvenezuela.com/cne-lista-de-candidatos.php
http://www.eleccionesvenezuela.com
http://www.eluniversal.com/
http://www.telesurtv.net

This page was last updated on 10 January 2018
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