Elections in Nicaragua
Encyclopedia
Elections in Nicaragua gives information on election
s and election results in Nicaragua
.
The Republic of Nicaragua
elects on national level a head of state
– the president
– and a legislature
. The President of Nicaragua
and his or her vice-president are elected on one ballot for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly
(Asamblea Nacional) has 92 members: 90 deputies elected for a five-year term by proportional representation
, the outgoing president, and the runner-up in the last presidential election. Should the president be reelected (not originally planned for in the Nicaraguan constitution), the outgoing vice president takes the seat reserved for him instead.
Nicaragua has a two-party system
, which means that there are two dominant political parties
, making it extremely difficult for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party.
Note: According to the pro-Sandinista magazine, Envio, this election was considered to have the "most freedom of choice" in the nation's history, and was approved by international advocates of free elections
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2578
coalition of those who opposed the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front
was victorious, winning 55% of the vote. Violeta Chamorro
became president.The national averages of valid votes for president were:
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/621
of the Liberal Alliance
-Liberal Constitutionalist Party defeated Daniel Ortega
of the Sandinista National Liberation Front
. A record number of 24 parties and alliances participated in these elections.
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/1990
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2578
Note: The 1990 Assembly members are joined by any presidential candidate who receives over 1% of the vote
Sources: http://www.country-data.com/frd/cs/nicaragua/ni_appen.html#table9 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2587
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/1990
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2587 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2613
a "written request signed by a minimum of 5% of the citizens on the electoral rolls corresponding to the respective electoral area". A total of 53 associations participated in the municipal elections. One of them (the Civic Association of Potosí
) won the mayor's post.
Despite winning only one municipality, an important number of association candidates finished in second or third place. In the nations capital, Managua
, two independent candidates; Pedro Solórzano of the Viva Managua Movement
association and Herty Lewites
of the Sol
(sun) association competed against the AL and FSLN official candidates. ALN's Roberto Cedeño got the 28% of the votes followed closely by Solórzano with 26%, Carlos Guadamúz from the FSLN with 25.7% and Herty Lewites
who became Managua
's mayor four years later came in fourth place with 12.3%.
The 1996 municipal election took place together with the Presidential election on October 20. Municipal Councils were elected in 145 municipalities nationwide. The final results for the elections were:
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/1990
The FSLN won for the first time in ten years the municipality of Managua
, Nicaragua's capital city with its candidate Herty Lewites
that pulled 44% of the votes.
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2672
Note: Elections took place for the first time in the newly created municipality of San José de Bocay
in the Jinotega
department.
The 2004 municipal elections represented a huge Sandinista victory. The FSLN-Convergence won 14 of the 17 departmental capitals, 87 of the 152 municipalities —including 5 of the 6 that make up Managua
’s greater metropolitan area— and 25 of Nicaragua
’s 42 largest cities. In total it will govern a little over 4 million inhabitants, nearly 71% of the national population.
The Sandinista victory was attributed to the success of the FSLN-Convergence alliance. Of the 87 mayors elected on the FSLN ticket, 17 come from these allies: 5 are independents, 3 are from the Resistance, 3 belong to the Sandinista Renovation Movement
(MRS), 2 are Conservatives, 2 are Liberals, 1 is from the Christian Unity Movement
(MUC) and 1 is a Social Christian. Of the deputy mayors who ran with an FSLN mayoral candidate, 28 are Liberals, 16 are independent, 14 are from the MUC, 9 are Conservatives, 9 are from the MRS, 3 are from the Resistance and 1 is a Social Christian. These allied candidates allowed the FSLN to win 12 municipal governments for the first time.
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2672
Note: National Assembly representatives also have a seat.
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2587 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/838
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2389
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2332
Three other parties didn't pull enough votes to win a seat in the Regional Council; the regional Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity
(PAMUC), the Sandinista Renovation Movement
(MRS) alliance, and Alliance for the Republic
(APRE).
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s and election results in Nicaragua
Politics of Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of Nicaragua is both head of state and head of government, and there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National...
.
The Republic of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
elects on national level a head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
– the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
– and a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The President of Nicaragua
President of Nicaragua
The position of President of Nicaragua was created in the Constitution of 1854. From 1825 until the Constitution of 1838 the title of the position was known as Head of State and from 1838 to 1854 as Supreme Director .-Heads of State of Nicaragua within the Federal Republic of Central America...
and his or her vice-president are elected on one ballot for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly
National Assembly of Nicaragua
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua.-Composition:The Nicaraguan legislature is a unicameral body....
(Asamblea Nacional) has 92 members: 90 deputies elected for a five-year term by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, the outgoing president, and the runner-up in the last presidential election. Should the president be reelected (not originally planned for in the Nicaraguan constitution), the outgoing vice president takes the seat reserved for him instead.
Nicaragua has a two-party system
Two-party system
A two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
, which means that there are two dominant political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
, making it extremely difficult for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party.
2006 elections
1984
The 1984 election took place on November 4. Of the 1,551,597 citizens registered in July, 1,170,142 voted (75.41%). The null votes were 6% of the total. The national averages of valid votes for president were:- Daniel OrtegaDaniel OrtegaJosé Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and revolutionary, currently serving as the 83rd President of Nicaragua, a position that he has held since 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 1985 and 1990, and for much of his life, has been a leader in the Sandinista...
, Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 66.97% - Clemente Guido, Democratic Conservative PartyDemocratic Conservative PartyThe Democratic Conservative Party is a Nicaraguan political party with a traditional conservative ideology. The party was formed in 1979...
(PCD) - 14.04% - Virgilio Godoy, Independent Liberal PartyIndependent Liberal Party (Nicaragua)The Independent Liberal Party is a Nicaraguan centre-right political party separated from Somoza's Nationalist Liberal Party in 1944, and formed in 1947. PLI participated in 1984 election, winning 9.6% of vote for President with its candidate Virgilio Godoy...
(PLI) - 9.60% - Mauricio DiazMauricio DíazMauricio Hernán Díaz Castro is a retired long-distance runner from Chile. He represented his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. On September 22, he achieved his personal best performance there in the men's 10,000 metres, finishing at a time of...
, Popular Social Christian PartyPopular Social Christian PartyThe Popular Social Christian Party , a 1978 off-shoot of the Social Christian Party is a Nicaraguan political party. The PPSC got 6 seats in the 1984 Legislative elections and 3 seats seats in the 1990 elections. In 1992 the PPSC and the Democratic Party of National Confidence formed the...
(PPSC) - 5.56% - Allan Zambrana, Nicaraguan Communist Party (PCdeN) - 1.45%
- Domingo Sánchez Sancho, Nicaraguan Socialist PartyNicaraguan Socialist PartyThe Nicaraguan Socialist Party is a political party in Nicaragua. Founded in July 1944 by Dr. Mario Flores Ortiz. PSN operated as the official communist party in the country. At the time of its foundation, PSN supported the regime of Anastasio Somoza García. PSN considered that Somoza was an...
(PSN) - 1.31% - Isidro Téllez, Marxist-Leninist Popular Action Movement (MAP-ML) - 1.03%
Note: According to the pro-Sandinista magazine, Envio, this election was considered to have the "most freedom of choice" in the nation's history, and was approved by international advocates of free elections
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2578
1990
The historical election of 1990 took place on February 25. The total registered voters were 1,752,088 and the abstentions 241,250 or 13.7%. The United Nicaraguan OppositionUnited Nicaraguan Opposition
The United Nicaraguan Opposition was a Nicaraguan rebel umbrella group formed in 1985, led by the triumvirate of Adolfo Calero, Alfonso Robelo, and Arturo Cruz...
coalition of those who opposed the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
was victorious, winning 55% of the vote. Violeta Chamorro
Violeta Chamorro
Violeta Barrios Torres de Chamorro is a Nicaraguan political leader, former president and publisher. She became president of Nicaragua on April 25, 1990, when she unseated Daniel Ortega...
became president.The national averages of valid votes for president were:
- Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, National Opposition UnionNational Opposition UnionNational Opposition Union was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. Its candidate Violeta Chamorro eventually won the race...
(UNO) - 777,552 votes - 54.73% - Daniel OrtegaDaniel OrtegaJosé Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and revolutionary, currently serving as the 83rd President of Nicaragua, a position that he has held since 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 1985 and 1990, and for much of his life, has been a leader in the Sandinista...
, Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 579,886 votes - 40.82% - Other - 63,106 - 4.45%
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/621
1996
In presidential elections, Arnoldo AlemánArnoldo Alemán
José Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo was the 81st President of Nicaragua from 10 January 1997 to 10 January 2002.-Biography:Alemán was born in Managua and received his early education at the La Salle institute in Managua...
of the Liberal Alliance
Liberal Alliance
Liberal Alliance may stand for:*Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, a political grouping in the European Parliament*Liberal Alliance of Montenegro, a political party active in Montenegro...
-Liberal Constitutionalist Party defeated Daniel Ortega
Daniel Ortega
José Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and revolutionary, currently serving as the 83rd President of Nicaragua, a position that he has held since 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 1985 and 1990, and for much of his life, has been a leader in the Sandinista...
of the Sandinista National Liberation Front
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
. A record number of 24 parties and alliances participated in these elections.
- Arnoldo AlemánArnoldo AlemánJosé Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo was the 81st President of Nicaragua from 10 January 1997 to 10 January 2002.-Biography:Alemán was born in Managua and received his early education at the La Salle institute in Managua...
, Liberal AllianceLiberal AllianceLiberal Alliance may stand for:*Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, a political grouping in the European Parliament*Liberal Alliance of Montenegro, a political party active in Montenegro...
- 51.03% - Daniel OrtegaDaniel OrtegaJosé Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and revolutionary, currently serving as the 83rd President of Nicaragua, a position that he has held since 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 1985 and 1990, and for much of his life, has been a leader in the Sandinista...
, Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 37.75% - Guillermo Osorno, Nicaraguan Party of the Christian PathNicaraguan Party of the Christian PathThe Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path is a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1996 by the Assemblies of God pastor Guillermo Osorno. CCN participated for the first time in the Nicaraguan general elections in 1996 where they got 4.10% of the votes and 4 seats in the National Assembly.In...
(CCN) - 4.10% - Noel Vidaurre, Nicaraguan Conservative Party (PCN) - 2.26%
- Other (20 other candidates with less than 1% of the votes) - 4.86%
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/1990
1984
The 1984 parliamentary election was held together with the presidential election on November 4. The percentages for National Assembly representatives were very similar to those the parties had received for their presidential candidate. The electoral quotient needed to win one of the 90 National Assembly seats was obtained by dividing the number of valid votes in each region by the number of representatives that had been assigned to each region, proportional to its population. Each party's "left over" votes—those insufficient to earn it a seat in a given region—were then added together and re-tallied nationally. The seats earned in this second count went to the next candidate on the party's slate in the regions where it had come closest to winning on the first round. In addition, any party getting at least 1% of the presidential vote (which all six losing parties did) was allowed a seat for its defeated presidential candidate. The final composition of the National Assembly was thus:- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 61 seats - Democratic Conservative PartyDemocratic Conservative PartyThe Democratic Conservative Party is a Nicaraguan political party with a traditional conservative ideology. The party was formed in 1979...
(PCD) - 14 seats - Independent Liberal PartyIndependent Liberal Party (Nicaragua)The Independent Liberal Party is a Nicaraguan centre-right political party separated from Somoza's Nationalist Liberal Party in 1944, and formed in 1947. PLI participated in 1984 election, winning 9.6% of vote for President with its candidate Virgilio Godoy...
(PLI) - 9 seats - Popular Social Christian PartyPopular Social Christian PartyThe Popular Social Christian Party , a 1978 off-shoot of the Social Christian Party is a Nicaraguan political party. The PPSC got 6 seats in the 1984 Legislative elections and 3 seats seats in the 1990 elections. In 1992 the PPSC and the Democratic Party of National Confidence formed the...
(PPSC) - 6 seats - Nicaraguan Communist Party (PCdeN) - 2 seats
- Nicaraguan Socialist PartyNicaraguan Socialist PartyThe Nicaraguan Socialist Party is a political party in Nicaragua. Founded in July 1944 by Dr. Mario Flores Ortiz. PSN operated as the official communist party in the country. At the time of its foundation, PSN supported the regime of Anastasio Somoza García. PSN considered that Somoza was an...
(PSN) - 2 seats - Marxist-Leninist Popular Action Movement (MAP-ML) - 2 seats
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2578
1990
The 1990 parliamentary election was held together with the presidential election on February 25. The final composition of the National Assembly in 1990 was:- National Opposition UnionNational Opposition UnionNational Opposition Union was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. Its candidate Violeta Chamorro eventually won the race...
(UNO) - 51 seats - Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 39 seats - Democratic Conservative PartyDemocratic Conservative PartyThe Democratic Conservative Party is a Nicaraguan political party with a traditional conservative ideology. The party was formed in 1979...
(PCD) - 3 seats - Independent Liberal PartyIndependent Liberal PartyThe Independent Liberal Party is the name of more than one political party:*Independent Liberals *Independent Liberal Party *Independent Liberal Party *Independent Liberal Party *Independent Liberals...
(PLI) - 3 seats - Popular Social Christian PartyPopular Social Christian PartyThe Popular Social Christian Party , a 1978 off-shoot of the Social Christian Party is a Nicaraguan political party. The PPSC got 6 seats in the 1984 Legislative elections and 3 seats seats in the 1990 elections. In 1992 the PPSC and the Democratic Party of National Confidence formed the...
(PPSC) - 3 seats - Nicaraguan Communist Party (PCdeN) - 3 seats
- Nicaraguan Socialist PartyNicaraguan Socialist PartyThe Nicaraguan Socialist Party is a political party in Nicaragua. Founded in July 1944 by Dr. Mario Flores Ortiz. PSN operated as the official communist party in the country. At the time of its foundation, PSN supported the regime of Anastasio Somoza García. PSN considered that Somoza was an...
(PSN) - 3 seats - Marxist-Leninist Popular Action Movement (MAP-ML) - 3 seats
- Revolutionary Unity MovementRevolutionary Unity MovementThe Revolutionary Unity Movement is a Nicaraguan political party, founded in 1988 as a new Marxist party by defectors from the Marxist-Leninist Party of Nicaragua , Nicaraguan Communist Party , and the Sandinista National Liberation Front...
(MUR) - 1 seat - Social Christian PartyNicaraguan Social Christian PartyThe Social Christian Party is a Nicaraguan political party with Christian democrat ideology founded in 1957. As of 2006, the PSC is part of the Sandinista Renovation Movement alliance in the Nicaraguan general election, 2006....
(PSC) - 1 seat
Note: The 1990 Assembly members are joined by any presidential candidate who receives over 1% of the vote
Sources: http://www.country-data.com/frd/cs/nicaragua/ni_appen.html#table9 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2587
1996
The 1996 elections for the National Assembly took place together with the Presidential election on October 20. The final composition of the National Assembly in 1996 was:- Liberal AllianceLiberal AllianceLiberal Alliance may stand for:*Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, a political grouping in the European Parliament*Liberal Alliance of Montenegro, a political party active in Montenegro...
(AL) - 42 seats - Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 36 seats - Nicaraguan Party of the Christian PathNicaraguan Party of the Christian PathThe Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path is a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1996 by the Assemblies of God pastor Guillermo Osorno. CCN participated for the first time in the Nicaraguan general elections in 1996 where they got 4.10% of the votes and 4 seats in the National Assembly.In...
(CCN) - 4 seats - Nicaraguan Conservative Party (PCN) - 3 seats
- National ProjectNational ProjectThe National Project was a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1995 by Antonio Lacayo, son-in-law of Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. Lacayo was prohibited from running in the 1996 elections by the Supreme Electoral Council due to his family ties with President Chamorro. PRONAL ran instead with...
(PRONAL) - 2 seats - Nicaraguan Resistance PartyNicaraguan Resistance PartyThe Nicaraguan Resistance Party is a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1993 by the Contras, the armed opposition to the Sandinista government in the 1980s....
(PRN) - 1 seat - Sandinista Renovation MovementSandinista Renovation MovementThe Sandinista Renovation Movement is a Nicaraguan political party founded by dissidents of the Sandinista National Liberation Front on May 18, 1995, on Augusto César Sandino's 100th anniversary...
(MRS) - 1 seat - Unity AllianceUnity AllianceThe Unity Alliance was a Nicaraguan electoral alliance of three center left and right parties in the Nicaraguan 1996 elections. Members of the coalition were:*Social Christian Party *Social Democratic Party *Revolutionary Unity Movement...
(AU) - 1 seat - Independent Liberal PartyIndependent Liberal PartyThe Independent Liberal Party is the name of more than one political party:*Independent Liberals *Independent Liberal Party *Independent Liberal Party *Independent Liberal Party *Independent Liberals...
(PLI) - 1 seat - National Conservative ActionNational Conservative ActionThe National Conservative Action is a right-wing conservative Nicaraguan political party founded in 1956. The ANC was part of the National Opposition Union coalition in the 1990 elections and got two representatives in the National Assembly, out of UNO's 51...
(ANC) - 1 seat - UNO-96 AllianceUNO-96 AllianceThe UNO-96 Alliance was a Nicaraguan electoral alliance of three right-wing parties in the Nicaraguan 1996 elections. Members of the coalition were:*National Democratic Party *Conservative Action Movement *Nicaraguan Democratic Movement...
(UNO-96) - 1 seat
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/1990
1990
The 1990 municipal election was held together with the presidential and the parliamentary elections on February 25. Municipal Councils were elected in 131 municipalities nationwide. The final results for the elections were:- National Opposition UnionNational Opposition UnionNational Opposition Union was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. Its candidate Violeta Chamorro eventually won the race...
(UNO) - 98 municipalities controlled - Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 31 municipalities controlled - Central American Unionist PartyCentral American Unionist PartyThe Central American Unionist Party is a center-right Nicaraguan political party.PUCA was originally established as a cultural grouping advocating 'Central Americanization' in 1904. Renamed the Committee of State in 1944, it began to act as a political party after the Sandanistas gained power in...
(PUCA) - 2 municipalities controlled
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2587 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2613
1996
A great expectation in the 1996 municipal elections was the participation for the first (and last) time of what the Electoral Law terms "popular subscription associations". According to the Electoral Law, to be formed, an association needed, among other things, to present to the Supreme Electoral CouncilSupreme Electoral Council
The Supreme Electoral Council is an autonomous, public organization responsible for organizing elections in Nicaragua....
a "written request signed by a minimum of 5% of the citizens on the electoral rolls corresponding to the respective electoral area". A total of 53 associations participated in the municipal elections. One of them (the Civic Association of Potosí
Civic Association of Potosí
The Civic Association of Potosí is a Nicaraguan political organisation founded in 1996 in Potosí, Rivas, under the figure of a popular subscription association. The ACP won the municipal elections in Potosí in 1996 with about 38% of the valid votes....
) won the mayor's post.
Despite winning only one municipality, an important number of association candidates finished in second or third place. In the nations capital, Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
, two independent candidates; Pedro Solórzano of the Viva Managua Movement
Viva Managua Movement
The Viva Managua Movement is a Nicaraguan political organisation founded in 1996 in Managua, under the figure of a popular subscription association. Viva Managua participated in the 1996 municipal elections with Pedro Solórzano as the candidate for mayor of Managua...
association and Herty Lewites
Herty Lewites
Herty Lewites Rodríguez was a Nicaraguan politician of Jewish descent.Lewites was born in the San Felipe barrio of Jinotepe, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland. He joined the struggle against the Somoza dictatorship in 1958 and went into exile in Brazil in 1960...
of the Sol
Sol Association
The Sol Association is a Nicaraguan political organisation founded in 1996 in Managua, under the figure of a popular subscription association. The Sol Association participated in the 1996 municipal elections with Herty Lewites as the candidate for mayor of Managua. Lewites came in fourth with...
(sun) association competed against the AL and FSLN official candidates. ALN's Roberto Cedeño got the 28% of the votes followed closely by Solórzano with 26%, Carlos Guadamúz from the FSLN with 25.7% and Herty Lewites
Herty Lewites
Herty Lewites Rodríguez was a Nicaraguan politician of Jewish descent.Lewites was born in the San Felipe barrio of Jinotepe, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland. He joined the struggle against the Somoza dictatorship in 1958 and went into exile in Brazil in 1960...
who became Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
's mayor four years later came in fourth place with 12.3%.
The 1996 municipal election took place together with the Presidential election on October 20. Municipal Councils were elected in 145 municipalities nationwide. The final results for the elections were:
- Liberal AllianceLiberal AllianceLiberal Alliance may stand for:*Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, a political grouping in the European Parliament*Liberal Alliance of Montenegro, a political party active in Montenegro...
(AL) - 92 municipalities controlled - Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 51 municipalities controlled - Sandinista Renovation MovementSandinista Renovation MovementThe Sandinista Renovation Movement is a Nicaraguan political party founded by dissidents of the Sandinista National Liberation Front on May 18, 1995, on Augusto César Sandino's 100th anniversary...
(MRS) - 1 municipality controlled - Civic Association of PotosíCivic Association of PotosíThe Civic Association of Potosí is a Nicaraguan political organisation founded in 1996 in Potosí, Rivas, under the figure of a popular subscription association. The ACP won the municipal elections in Potosí in 1996 with about 38% of the valid votes....
(ACP) - 1 municipality controlled
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/1990
2000
In the 2000 municipal election 1,532,816 voters elected Municipal Councils in 151 municipalities nationwide. It was the first time that the Presidential and Municipal elections were held separately. The final results for the elections were:- Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) - 94 municipalities controlled
- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 52 municipalities controlled - Conservative PartyConservative Party of NicaraguaThe Conservative Party is a conservative political party in Nicaragua.The party's colour is green and its emblem is a torch of freedom in a circle. Its slogan is “Dios, Orden, Justicia” , often depicted on the three sides of a triangle.-History:The conservative party is the oldest currently...
(PC) - 5 municipalities controlled
The FSLN won for the first time in ten years the municipality of Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
, Nicaragua's capital city with its candidate Herty Lewites
Herty Lewites
Herty Lewites Rodríguez was a Nicaraguan politician of Jewish descent.Lewites was born in the San Felipe barrio of Jinotepe, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland. He joined the struggle against the Somoza dictatorship in 1958 and went into exile in Brazil in 1960...
that pulled 44% of the votes.
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2672
2004
In the 2004 municipal election 1,664,243 voters elected Municipal Councils in 152 municipalities nationwide, with nearly a 56% abstention. The final results for the elections were:- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN-Convergence) - 87 municipalities controlled - Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) - 57 municipalities controlled
- Alliance for the RepublicAlliance for the RepublicThe Alliance for the Republic is a right-wing liberal-conservative Nicaraguan political party founded in 2004 by dissident liberals from the Constitutional Liberal Party and the Conservative Party including Enrique Bolaños, who was President of Nicaragua at the time.APRE won 3 major offices in...
(APRE) - 4 municipalities controlled - Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) - 3 municipalities controlled
- Nicaraguan Resistance PartyNicaraguan Resistance PartyThe Nicaraguan Resistance Party is a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1993 by the Contras, the armed opposition to the Sandinista government in the 1980s....
(PRN) - 1 municipality controlled
Note: Elections took place for the first time in the newly created municipality of San José de Bocay
San José de Bocay
San José de Bocay is a municipality in the Jinotega department of Nicaragua. With an area of 3,990.40 km², the municipality of San José de Bocay was created on March 13, 2002, as a result of the division of the El Cuá-Bocay municipality. As of 2006, San José de Bocay is the newest municipality in...
in the Jinotega
Jinotega (department)
Jinotega is the second largest department in Nicaragua. It is bordered on the north by the country of Honduras. The departments surrounding it are, Matagalpa to the south, Zelaya to the east, and Estelí, Madriz, and Nueva Segovia. It covers an area of 9,755 km² and has a population of 297,300...
department.
The 2004 municipal elections represented a huge Sandinista victory. The FSLN-Convergence won 14 of the 17 departmental capitals, 87 of the 152 municipalities —including 5 of the 6 that make up Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
’s greater metropolitan area— and 25 of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
’s 42 largest cities. In total it will govern a little over 4 million inhabitants, nearly 71% of the national population.
The Sandinista victory was attributed to the success of the FSLN-Convergence alliance. Of the 87 mayors elected on the FSLN ticket, 17 come from these allies: 5 are independents, 3 are from the Resistance, 3 belong to the Sandinista Renovation Movement
Sandinista Renovation Movement
The Sandinista Renovation Movement is a Nicaraguan political party founded by dissidents of the Sandinista National Liberation Front on May 18, 1995, on Augusto César Sandino's 100th anniversary...
(MRS), 2 are Conservatives, 2 are Liberals, 1 is from the Christian Unity Movement
Christian Unity Movement
Christian Unity Movement , was founded by dissidents from the Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path in year 2000. As of 2006, MUC is part of the Sandinista National Liberation Front alliance....
(MUC) and 1 is a Social Christian. Of the deputy mayors who ran with an FSLN mayoral candidate, 28 are Liberals, 16 are independent, 14 are from the MUC, 9 are Conservatives, 9 are from the MRS, 3 are from the Resistance and 1 is a Social Christian. These allied candidates allowed the FSLN to win 12 municipal governments for the first time.
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2672
1990
The first autonomous elections on the Caribbean Coast took place in 1990 together with the presidential, parliamentary and municipal election on February 25. The voters elected the 45 Regional Council members in what is officially called the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) and the 45 in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS). The abstention was 21%, only 7% higher than the national average:- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 39 seats (RAAN: 21, RAAS: 18) - Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) - 26 seats (RAAN: 22, RAAS: 4)
- National Opposition UnionNational Opposition UnionNational Opposition Union was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. Its candidate Violeta Chamorro eventually won the race...
(UNO) - 25 seats (RAAN: 2, RAAS: 23)
Note: National Assembly representatives also have a seat.
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2587 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222
1994
With an abstention of 34%, the inhabitants of the Atlantic Coast elected the 45 Regional Council members in what is officially called the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) and the 45 in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS) on February 27:- Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) - 37 seats (RAAN: 19, RAAS: 18)
- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 33 seats (RAAN: 19, RAAS: 14) - Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) - 12 seats (RAAN: 7, RAAS: 5)
- National Opposition UnionNational Opposition UnionNational Opposition Union was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. Its candidate Violeta Chamorro eventually won the race...
(UNO) - 5 seats (RAAN: 0, RAAS: 5) - Authentic Costeño Autonomy MovementAuthentic Costeño Autonomy MovementThe Authentic Costeño Autonomy Movement is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in 1993 by Faran Dometz Hebbert, a Moravian pastor from Pearl Lagoon and former director of the Moravian High School in Bluefields. MAAC represents the Creole establishment...
(MAAC) - 2 seats (RAAN: 0, RAAS: 2) - Costeño Democratic AllianceCosteño Democratic AllianceThe Costeño Democratic Alliance is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in 1993 by the Social Christian dissident Alvin Guthrie, former UNO governor of the South Atlantic Autonomous Region from 1990 to 1994. ADECO contested in the 1994 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections and won 1 seat in...
(ADECO) - 1 seat (RAAN: 0, RAAS: 1)
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/838
1998
With an abstention of 40%, the inhabitants of the Atlantic Coast elected the 45 Regional Council members in what is officially called the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) and the 45 in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS) on March 1.:- Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) - 44 seats (RAAN: 24, RAAS: 20)
- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 25 seats (RAAN: 13, RAAS: 12) - Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) - 12 seats (RAAN: 8, RAAS: 4)
- Multiethnic Indigenist PartyMultiethnic Indigenist PartyThe Multiethnic Indigenous Party is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in 1998 by the PLC dissident and Maranatha pastor Rayfield Hodgson, governor of the South Atlantic Autonomous Region from 1994 to 1998. The PIM contested in the 1998 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections and won 7 seats ...
(PIM) - 7 seats (RAAN: 0, RAAS: 7) - Coast AllianceCoast AllianceThe Coast Alliance was a regional Nicaraguan political coalition of five parties founded in 1997 in opposition to the Constitutionalist Liberal Party and the Sandinista National Liberation Front...
(Alianza Costeña) - 2 seats (RAAN: 0, RAAS: 2)
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2389
2002
With an overall abstention of 50-60%, inhabitants of the Atlantic Coast elected 90 Regional Council members on March 3:- Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) - 48 seats (RAAN: 17, RAAS: 31)
- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 28 seats (RAAN: 15, RAAS: 13) - Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) - 13 seats (RAAN: 12, RAAS: 1)
- Multiethnic Party for Coast UnityMultiethnic Party for Coast UnityThe Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in year 2000. PAMUC has its base of supporters in the municipality of Waspam, in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region. The PAMUC contested in the 2002 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections and won 1 seat in the...
(PAMUC) - 1 seat (RAAN: 1, RAAS: 0)
Sources: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222 http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/2332
2006
The fifth autonomous elections on the Caribbean Coast took place on March 5. The abstention was a record-high 55%. The voters elected the 45 Regional Council members in what is officially called the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) and the 45 in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS):- Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) - 40 seats (RAAN: 18, RAAS: 22)
- Sandinista National Liberation FrontSandinista National Liberation FrontThe Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) - 27 seats (RAAN: 15, RAAS: 12) - Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) - 18 seats (RAAN: 12, RAAS: 6)
- Nicaraguan Liberal AllianceNicaraguan Liberal AllianceThe Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance is a political party in Nicaragua. It was started in 2005 by Eduardo Montealegre and other members of the Constitutional Liberal Party who opposed former President of the country Arnoldo Alemán's continued control of the PLC even after he had been found guilty of...
-Conservative PartyConservative Party of NicaraguaThe Conservative Party is a conservative political party in Nicaragua.The party's colour is green and its emblem is a torch of freedom in a circle. Its slogan is “Dios, Orden, Justicia” , often depicted on the three sides of a triangle.-History:The conservative party is the oldest currently...
(ALN-PC) - 5 seats (RAAN: 0, RAAS: 5)
Three other parties didn't pull enough votes to win a seat in the Regional Council; the regional Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity
Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity
The Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in year 2000. PAMUC has its base of supporters in the municipality of Waspam, in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region. The PAMUC contested in the 2002 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections and won 1 seat in the...
(PAMUC), the Sandinista Renovation Movement
Sandinista Renovation Movement
The Sandinista Renovation Movement is a Nicaraguan political party founded by dissidents of the Sandinista National Liberation Front on May 18, 1995, on Augusto César Sandino's 100th anniversary...
(MRS) alliance, and Alliance for the Republic
Alliance for the Republic
The Alliance for the Republic is a right-wing liberal-conservative Nicaraguan political party founded in 2004 by dissident liberals from the Constitutional Liberal Party and the Conservative Party including Enrique Bolaños, who was President of Nicaragua at the time.APRE won 3 major offices in...
(APRE).
Source: http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3222