Nicaragua

National Assembly

Political system: Presidential system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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): 06 Nov 2016
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 15 Dec 2016
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake: 90
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Results

About the election: President Daniel Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) took 70 of 90 seats at stake in the 92-member National Assembly (see note 1). The Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), which allied with the FSLN in the outgoing legislature, took 13 seats, up from 2 previously. The 2016 elections followed the dismissal of 28 opposition members (16 titular members and 12 substitutes) from the outgoing National Assembly, and were boycotted by the opposition (see note 2).

President Ortega was re-elected for a third consecutive term (see note 3). His wife, Ms. Rosario Murillo, became Vice President (see note 4). They were sworn in on 10 January 2017. During the election campaign, the FSLN promised to work for peace, stability and the security of Nicaraguan families. A 50-per cent quota for each sex, introduced by the 2012 amendments to the electoral law, was applied for the first time in the 2016 elections. 42 women were elected, up from 37 in 2011.

Note 1:

In addition to the 90 elected members, one seat is reserved for the runner-up in the presidential election and a second seat goes to the immediate past President of the country or his/her deputy. Mr. Maximino Rodríguez (PLC) took the first seat. Since President Ortega was re-elected in 2016, his deputy, Mr. Moisés Omar Halleslevens Acevedo (FSLN), took the second seat.

Note 2:

Prior to the 2016 elections, Mr. Eduardo Montealegre, President of the Liberal Independent Party (PLI), formed the National Coalition for Democracy (CND) to run for the 2016 presidential elections. On 8 June 2016, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) issued a ruling that removed Mr. Montealegre as the PLI's legal representative and replaced him with Mr. Pedro Reyes. On 17 June, the CSJ disqualified all CND candidates, including Mr. Montealegre, from the 2016 elections. Other opposition candidates withdrew in protest, leaving President Ortega as the only candidate from a major party in the presidential race. Mr. Reyes subsequently expelled the 28 PLI MPs (16 titular and 12 substitutes), including Mr. Montealegre, from the party. On 28 July, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) terminated their parliamentary mandates. On 15 August, the CND called for a boycott of the presidential and parliamentary elections and subsequently asked the Court of Appeal to invalidate the CSE decision. On 12 September, the CSJ rejected the appeal. PLI members loyal to Mr. Reyes participated in the 2016 elections and took two seats.

Note 3:

In January 2014, the National Assembly approved constitutional amendments that removed the previous two-term limit and allowed for indefinite presidential re-election. The amendments also scrapped the previous rule that the winning candidate needs to receive at least 35% of the vote to be elected president.

Note 4:

Article 147 of the Constitution bars those related to the president either by blood or affinity from being a candidate for president or vice president but lawmakers differ over the definition of the affinity relationship.
Number of parties winning seats: 7
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 77.8%
Alternation of power after elections: No
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)	70
Liberal and Constitutionalist Party (PLC)	13
Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN)	2
Liberal Independent Party (PLI)	2
YATAMA (Sons of Mother Earth")	1
Alliance for the Republic (APRE)	1
Conservative Party (PC)	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 50
Number of women elected: 42
Percentage of women elected: 45.7%
Women Directly Elected: 42
Other notes on the elections: The "Distribution of seats" above refers to the 90 directly-elected members. The "Distribution of seats according to sex" includes the two non-elected members: the runner-up in the presidential election and the immediate past vice-president; both men.
Sources: National Assembly (05.12.2016)

Consejo Supremo Electoral

El Nuevo Diario

Reuters

BBC

USA Today

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 50
Total number of women after the election: 42
Percentage of women after the election: 45.7%
First-term parliamentarians: 39
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 42.4%
Date of the first session: 09 Jan 2017

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Gustavo Eduardo Porras Cortés (Male)
Political party: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
Date of election: 09 Jan 2017