Politics of Nicaragua

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Politics of Nicaragua
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Executive
Legislature
Administrative divisions
Elections
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Nicaragua is a

National Assembly. The judiciary
is independent of the executive and the legislature.

According to the

V-Dem Democracy indices Nicaragua is 2023 the least electoral democratic country in Latin America.[1]

Constitution

Main article: Constitution of Nicaragua

In 1995, the executive and legislative branches negotiated a reform of the 1987

National Assembly, including permitting the Assembly to override a presidential veto with a simple majority vote and eliminating the president
's ability to pocket veto a bill. Members of the unicameral National Assembly are elected to concurrent five-year terms.

In January 2014, the National Assembly approved changes to the constitution, removing presidential term limits. This allowed current President Daniel Ortega to run for a third successive term.[2]

Executive branch

Main article: Government of Nicaragua
Main office-holders
Office Name Party Since
President Daniel Ortega FSLN 11 January 2016
Vice President Rosario Murillo FSLN 11 January 2016

The president and the vice president are elected for a single five-year term. With the reform of the constitution in 2014 the ban on re-election of the president has been removed.[3] The president appoints the Council of Ministers.

Legislative branch

Main article:
National Assembly of Nicaragua

The

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) consists of 90 deputies elected from party lists drawn at the department and national level, plus the outgoing president and the runner-up in the presidential race, for a total of 92. In the 2011 elections, the Sandinista National Liberation Front won 63 seats (securing a majority), the Independent Liberal Party won 27 seats, and the Constitutionalist Liberal Party won 2 seats. This includes seats given to outgoing Vice President Jaime Morales Carazo and presidential runner-up Fabio Gadea Mantilla
.

Outgoing Vice President Jaime Morales Carazot's seat would usually be given to the outgoing president. However, Danial Ortega was re-elected after the Constitution was modified to remove term limits.

Political parties and elections

For other political parties, see List of political parties in Nicaragua. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Nicaragua.

Judicial branch

The

Supreme Court of Justice
supervises the functioning of the still largely ineffective and overburdened judicial system. As part of the 1995 constitutional reforms, the independence of the Supreme Court was strengthened by increasing the number of magistrates from 9 to 12. In 2000, the number of Supreme Court Justices was increased to 16. Supreme Court justices are nominated by the political parties and elected to 5-year terms by the National Assembly.

Electoral branch

Led by a council of seven magistrates, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) is the co-equal branch of government responsible for organizing and conducting elections, plebiscites, and referendums. The magistrates and their alternates are elected to 5-year terms by the National Assembly. Constitutional changes in 2000 expanded the number of CSE magistrates from five to seven and gave the PLC and the FSLN a freer hand to name party activists to the council, prompting allegations that both parties were politicizing electoral institutions and processes and excluding smaller political parties.

Human rights

See also:
2018–2022 Nicaraguan protests

Freedom of speech is a right guaranteed by the Nicaraguan constitution, but media has come under censorship from time to time.[4][5][6] Other constitutional freedoms include peaceful assembly and association, freedom of religion, and freedom of movement within the country, as well as foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The government also permits domestic and international human rights monitors to operate freely in Nicaragua.

The constitution prohibits discrimination based on birth, nationality, political belief, race, gender, language, religion, opinion, national origin, economic or social condition. Homosexuality has been legal since 2008.

All public and private sector workers, except the military and the police, are entitled to form and join unions of their own choosing, and they exercise this right extensively.[7] Nearly half of Nicaragua's work force, including agricultural workers, is unionized.[8] Workers have the right to strike. Collective bargaining is becoming more common in the private sector.[9]

Administrative divisions

Main article: Departments of Nicaragua

Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments: Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, León, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rivas, Río San Juan, as well as in two autonomous regions: North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Nicaragua

Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega said March 6, 2008 that the nation is breaking relations with Colombia "in solidarity with the Ecuadoran people", following the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis.[10] The relations were restored soon after.

Political pressure groups

Some political pressure groups are:

  • National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions, including
    • Farm Workers Association or ATC
    • Health Workers Federation or FETSALUD
    • Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO
    • National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN
    • National Union of Employees or UNE
    • National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG
    • Sandinista Workers' Centre or CST
    • Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN
  • Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions, including
    • Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A
    • Confederation of Labour Unification
      or CUS
    • Independent General Confederation of Labor
      or CGT-I
    • Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS
  • Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union
  • Superior Council of Private Enterprise
    or COSEP is a confederation of business groups

See also

References

  1. ^ V-Dem Institute (2023). "The V-Dem Dataset". Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Nicaragua: Ortega allowed to run for third successive term". BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  3. ^ "BTI 2022 Nicaragua Country Report". BTI 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  4. ^ Avenue, Committee to Protect Journalists 330 7th; York, 11th Floor New; Ny 10001. "Nicaragua Special Report: Daniel Ortega's Media War". cpj.org. Retrieved 2018-12-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Last founder of Sandinistas dies". BBC News. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  6. ^ McDonald, Michael (27 December 2018). "Nicaragua Suffers Worst Slump in 30 Years Amid Ortega Crackdown". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  7. ISBN 978-1-4387-6836-6
    .
  8. ISBN 9780160436277
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0-16-043951-3
    .
  10. ^ "CNN".

External links

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