President Daniel Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) took 75 of the 90 seats at stake in the 91-member National Assembly (see note 1). The Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), which endorsed Mr. Walter Espinoza as its presidential candidate, took 9 seats, down from 13. In all, 46 women were elected, up from 42 in 2016 (see note 2). In the presidential elections held together with the parliamentary polls, President Ortega was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term, along with his wife, the Vice President Rosario Murillo. They were sworn in on 10 January 2022.



Prior to the 2021 elections, several potential presidential candidates were arrested (see note 3). On 8 November, the European Union said the elections had “taken place without democratic guarantees and their results lack legitimacy”. On 12 November, the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted a resolution stating the 2021 elections had no democratic legitimacy. On 19 November, the Nicaraguan Government announced it would withdraw from OAS.



Note 1:

Article 133 of the Constitution stipulates that the former President and Vice President of the Republic, elected by the people’s direct vote in the immediately preceding term, are to be part of the National Assembly as regular members and alternates respectively. The candidates for President and Vice President of the Republic who finish second in the election are also to be members and alternates of the National Assembly.

The previous legislature elected in 2016 comprised a total of 92 members: 90 directly elected members, as well as the runner-up in the presidential election and the immediately preceding Vice-President. Since both the President and the Vice President were re-elected in 2021, only the runner-up in the presidential election (titular member Mr. Walter Espinoza) became a member of the new legislature. Mr. Espinoza will alternate with his running mate, Ms. Mayra Consuelo. The new legislature thus comprises a total of 91 members.



Note 2:

According to the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE), the 2021 elections saw the 50-per- cent gender quota (stipulated in Article 131 of the Constitution) “rigorously applied for the first time for the whole of the electoral process”. 



Note 3:

They include: Ms. Cristiana Chamorro (daughter of former President Violeta Chamorro) who was placed under house arrest in June 2021 for alleged money laundering; Mr. Felix Maradiaga, Mr. Arturo Cruz and Mr. Juan Sebastián Chamorro, who were prosecuted for alleged treason. All candidates denied the charges.