oast
Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
9 January 1987
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice
President Virgilio GODOY Reyes (since 25 April 1990); election last
held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November 1996); results -
Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN)
40.8%, other 4.5%
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional):
elections last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November
1996); results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats -
(92 total) UNO 41, FSLN 39, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 12
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling coalition:
National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate
parties: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo,
president; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto
SOMARRIBA, Arnold ALEMAN; Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis
Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA,
Francisco MAYORGA; National Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ;
National Action Party (PAN), Duilio BALTODANO; UNO - hardline parties:
Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY
Reyes; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR
Aguirre, secretary general; Conservative Popular Alliance Party
(PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli
ALTIMIRANO Perez; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel
opposition parties:
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central
American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative
Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National
Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity
(MUR), Francisco SAMPER; Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ;
Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Social
Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando AGUERRO; Popular Action Movement -
Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ; Popular Social Christian
Party (PPSC), M