Carazo, Chinandega,
Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya,
Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*,
Atlantico Sur*

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000

Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review
administrative acts

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo
(since 10 January 1997); Vice President Leopoldo NAVARRO (since 24
October 2000); note - the president is both chief of state and head
of government

head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (since 10
January 1997); Vice President Leopoldo NAVARRO (since 24 October
2000); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government

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; election last held 20 October
1996 (next to be held 4 November 2001); note - in July 1995 the term
of the office of the president was amended to five years

election results: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling
party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE
(PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other
candidates) 4.33%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held 4 November
2001)

election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance
(ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN
36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal
Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PC 1,
PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected
for seven-year terms by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders: Conservative Party of Nicaragua or
PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI
[Virgilio GODOY]; Liberal Alliance (ruling alliance including
Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC, New Liberal Party or PALI,
Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN, and Centr