Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Managua
geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2
autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region
autonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January
2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October 2005);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government;
Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo was elected Vice President by the deputies of
the National Assembly after Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon
resigned on 27 September 2005
head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10
January 2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October
2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) elected president -
38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE (ALN) 29%, Jose RIZO (PLC) 26.21%,
Edmundo JARQUIN (MRS) 6.44%; note - ORTEGA will take office 10
January 2007
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;
members are elected by proportional representation and party lists
to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat
for the runner-up in previous presidential election)
elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election),
MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS)