El Salvador

Legislative Assembly

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Presidential system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
04.03.2018
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.03.2021
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
84
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
1,164
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
927
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
237
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
20.36%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
10

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
5,186,042

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
President Salvador Sanchez Ceren's Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) fell from 31 to 23 seats in the 84-member Legislative Assembly. The National Republican Alliance (ARENA), now led by Mr. Mauricio Interiano, remained the largest party with 37 seats, up from 32. Two other rightist parties - the Great Alliance for National Unity (GANA) and the National Concertation Party (PCN) - also fared well, giving the three major right-wing parties 56 seats in all.

During the election campaign, the major parties focused on security issues and the fight against crime. ARENA argued for more austerity in the 2018 but also proposed to allocate more resources to health, education, and security. The FMLN promised to continue to defend social programs.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
6
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
60%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
44.05%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Note on the alternation of power
Presidential system
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
National Republican Alliance (ARENA) 37
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) 23
Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) 10
National Conciliation Party (PCN) 9
Christian Democratic Party (PDC) 3
Democratic Change (CD) 1
Independents 1
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
58
Number of women elected
26
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
30.95%
Other notes
The Distribution of seats above refers to the composition of the newly elected Legislative Assembly as at 26 April 2018.
The final election results published by the election commission (Tribunal Supremo Electoral) were as follows.
- ARENA: 35
- ARENA-PCN: 3
- FMLN: 18
- FMLN-CD: 3
- FMLN-PSD: 1
- FMLN-PSD-CD: 1
- GANA: 10
- PCN : 8
- PDC: 2
- PDC-PCN: 1
- CD: 1
- Independent: 1
Sources
Legislative Assembly (26.04.2018)
EU Election Observation Mission, El Salvador, 2018
Tribunal Supremo Electoral
El Mundo
Americas Society / Council of the Americas
Tele Sur
Women Directly Elected
26

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
58
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
26
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
01.05.2018
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Norman Noel Quijano Gonzalez (Male)
Political party
National Republican Alliance (ARENA)
Date of election
01.05.2018