HONDURAS
The President is elected for a single 4-year term. National Congress elections are held at the same time for a concurrent 4 year term. The National Congress is made of 128 deputies elected by proportional representation to represent the country’s 18 departments. The country is a two-party system for all intents and purposes split between the Liberal Party (PLH) and the National Party (PNH)
Brief Timeline:
1948-General Tiburcio Carias holds general elections after 16 years in power
1954-Young officers stage a coup, create junta government
1957-Constiuent Assembly elections held, PLH Ramon Villeda appointed President. rules
1963-Conservative Military officers stage coup. General Oswaldo Lopez takes power
1970-Civilian President of PNH takes power.
1972-Oswaldo Lopez stages another coup
1975-General Juan Alberto Melgar in power
1978-General Policarpo Paz in power
1979-1982-Transition to civilian rule. New constitution.
1982-PLH Robert Suazo takes power.
1986-PLH Jose Azcona takes power. First successful civilian transition in 30 years.
1990-PNH Rafael Leonardo Callejas takes power
1994- PLH Carlos Roberto Reina takes power
1998-PLH Carlos Roberto Flores takes power
2002- PNH Ricardo Maduro takes power
2006-PLH Manuel Zelaya takes power
The two main parties are
* Liberal Party of Honduras (Partido Liberal de Honduras, PLH)-center left party
Founded 1891.
* National Party of Honduras (Partido Nacional de Honduras, PNH)-center right party
Founded 1902
2005 Election results summary
“Mr. Lobo Sosa pledged to wipe out violent crime by introducing the death penalty for grievous crimes such as sexual assault, kidnapping and murder in order to make Honduras a crime-free country. His main rival, Mr. Zelaya, vowed to eliminate widespread government corruption under a "citizens empowerment" plan. He also promised to pass a transparency law and establish a civil assembly to monitor the government. Both leading candidates pledged to fight poverty, unemployment, poor housing and malnutrition. Honduras has poverty and unemployment rates of 71 and 46 per cent respectively.
About 46 per cent of the four million registered voters turned out at the polls, which were monitored by a total of 114 election observers from 14 countries of the Organization of American States along with 6,000 local observers. More than 16,000 soldiers and police officers were deployed. The OAS declared that delays, some complaints of irregularities, and general difficulties "did not alter the process as a whole."”
PresidentialCandidate Party Votes %
------
Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales PLH 915,075 49.9
Porfirio Lobo Sosa PN 846,493 46.2
Juan Angel Almendares Bonilla PUD 27,731 01.5
Juan Ramón Martínez PDCH 25,722 01.4
Carlos Sosa Coello PINU 18,689 01.0
Political Group
Total of seatsGain/Loss
Liberal Party (LP) 627
National party (NP) 55-6
Party of Democratic Unification (PUD) 50
Christian Democratic Party of Honduras (PDCH) 41
Innovation and Unity Party (PINU) 2-2
2001 Election Results Summary
Presidential
CandidatePartyVotesPercentage
Ricardo Maduro Joest NACIONAL 1,137,734 52.21
Rafael Piñeda Ponce LIBERAL 964,590 44.26
Olban Valladares PINU 31,666 1.45
Matías Funes PUD24,102 1.11
Marco Orlando IriartePDCH21,089 0.97
Distribution of seats
Political GroupTotal
National party (PN) 61
Liberal Party (PL) 55
Party of Democratic Unification (PUD) 5
Christian Democratic Party of Honduras (PDCH) 4
Innovation and Unity Party (PINU) 3
Parliamentary parties
* Liberal Party of Honduras (Partido Liberal de Honduras, PLH)
* National Party of Honduras (Partido Nacional de Honduras, PNH)
* Democratic Unification Party (Partido Unificación Democrática, PUD)
* Christian Democratic Party of Honduras (Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Honduras)
* Party for Innovation and Unity-Social-Democracy (Partido de Innovación y Unidad-Social Democracia)
Previous parties
* Honduran Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Hondureño, PRH)
* Morazanista National Liberation Party (Partido Morazanista de Liberación Nacional, PMLN)
* Party for the transformation of Honduras (Partido para la transformación de Honduras, PTH)
* Patriotic Renovation Party (Partido Renovación Patriótica, PRP)
NICARAGUA
The President and Vice-President are elected for a single 5-year term. National Assembly elections are held at the same time for a concurrent 5 year term. The National Assembly is made of 20 nationally elected deputies, 70 regionally elected deputies, the outgoing president, and the runner-up in the presidential election, for 92 total deputies.
There are four parties and alliances that currently hold seats in the National Assembly: On the left there is the FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front) and the MRS (Sandinista renovation Movement) which broke from the FSLN in 1995. On the right there is the PLC (Constitutionalist Liberal Party), and the ALN (Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance) which broke from the PLC in 2004-2005.
Brief Timeline:
1936-1979 Somoza Family rules Nicaragua
1961-FSLN formed
1979-Somoza flees. 5 person junta formed with Sandinista militants Daniel Ortega and Moises Hassan, novelist Sergio Ramírez Mercado (a member of Los Doce "the Twelve"), businessman Alfonso Robelo Callejas, and Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. The last two soon left the Junta
1984-FSLN Daniel Ortega Elected
1990-National Opposition Union(alliance of conservatives) Violeta Chamorro elected
1995-Ramirez Mercado splits with FSLN creates MRS party
1996-PLC Arnoldo Aleman elected
2001-PLC Enrique Bolonos elected
2004-Bolonos charges Aleman with corruption, creates APRE party. AL also created
2006-FLSN Daniel Ortega Elected
LEFT WING PARTIES
* Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional,FSLN)-Socialist
* Sandinista Renovation Movement (Movimiento Renovador Sandinista, MRS)
-Founded by ex-FSLN members in 1995
RIGHT WING PARTIES
* Constitutionalist Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Constitucionalista, PLC)
* Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (Alianza Liberal Nicaragüense, ALN)- Conservative, Right Wing. Known as ALN-PC because of affiliation with Partido Conservador.
Was created when Aleman retained power of PLC after being convicted of corruption
Conservative Party (PC)
Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN
Liberal Salvation Movement (MSL)
Alliance for the Republic (APRE)Est. 2004- once led above 3 parties
APRE was created when PLC President Bolonos upon taking power in 2002 charged previous president Aleman, also PLC, with corruption leading to Aleman being convicted and sentenced to 20 years in jail.
2006 ELECTIONS SUMMARY
“The main issue in the 2006 elections was the economy and how to deal with poverty in one of the poorest countries in the Americas, where over 80 per cent of the population lives on less than two dollars per day. The media focused on the presidential candidates' programmes. Mr. Ortega (FSLN), who was running for President for the fourth time, pledged to end "unbridled capitalism" while increasing foreign investment to reduce poverty. His plan included establishing development banks for agriculture and small businesses.
The conservative camp was deeply divided. The PLC endorsed former Vice-President José Rizo as its presidential candidate, and pledged to promote employment in the country by favouring rural development. The ALN candidate, Mr. Montealegre, promised to enhance the country's involvement in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). He also pledged to create more jobs in the country in order to prevent emigration. Mr. Montealegre received the backing of outgoing President Bolaños (PLC), while some PLC candidates publicly supported the ALN.
The Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), founded by former FSLN members in 1995, was led by Mr. Edmundo Jarquín, following the death of former leader Herty Lewites in July 2006. The new MRS leader promised to build 10,000 houses per year.
66.73 per cent of the 3.6 million registered voters turned out at the polls, which were monitored by about 17,000 observers. The 150-member EU Observer Mission reported that the elections were generally "peaceful, competitive and adequately administered".
Presidential
Candidates / Party / Valid Votes / % [of Valid Votes]Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra / Sandinista National Liberation Front Frente Sandinista de Liberación NacionalFSLN / 930,862 / 38.00%
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE Rivas / Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance Alianza Liberal NicaragüenseALN / 693,391 / 28.30%
José RIZO Castellon / Liberal Constitutionalist Party Partido Liberal ConstitucionalistaPLC / 664,225 / 27.11%
Edmundo JARQU�?N Calderon / Sandinista Renewal Movement Movimiento Renovador SandinistaMRS / 154,224 / 6.30%
Edén Atanacio PASTORA Gomez / Alternative for Change Alternativa por El CambioAC / 7,200 / 0.29%
Legislative
PartySeats
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)38
Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC)25
Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance - Conservative Party (ALN-PC)22
Sandinista Renewal Movement (MRS)5
2001 ELECTIONS SUMMARY
Presidential
CandidatoPartidoPorcentaje
Enrique Bolaños Geyer PLC 56.3
José Daniel Ortega Saavedra FSLN 42.3
Alberto Saborío PC 1.4
Legislative
Distribution of seats
Political GroupTotal
Liberal and Constitutional Party (PLC) 47
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) 43
Conservative Party (PC) 2
Other parties
* Alternative for Change (AC) a
* Central American Unionist Party (PUCA) a
* Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN) a
* Christian Democratic Union (UDC) a
* Christian Unity Movement (MUC) a
* Ecologist Green Party of Nicaragua (PVEN) a
* Great Liberal Union (GUL)
* Independent Liberal Party (PLI) a
* Liberal Alliance (AL) a
* Marxist-Leninist Popular Action Movement (MAP-ML) a
* New Liberal Party (PALI) a
* Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path (CCN) a
* Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN) a
* Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN) a
* Party for Citizen Action (PAC) a
* Popular Conservative Alliance (APC) a
a = active
Defunct parties or parties with no legal status
* Christian Alternative Party (AC)
* Conservative Action Movement (MAC)
* Conservative Alliance (ALCON) a
* Democratic Conservative Party (PCD)
* Democratic Party of National Confidence (PDCN)
* Independent Liberal Party for National Unity (PLIUN) a
* National Action Party (PAN)
* National Conservative Action (ANC)
* National Conservative Unity Party (PUNC)
* National Democratic Party (PND)
* National Project (PRONAL)
* National Unity Movement (MUN) a
* Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC)
* Revolutionary Unity Movement (MUR)
* Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT)
* Social Christian Party (PSC) a
* Social Conservative Party (PSC)
* Social Democratic Party (PSD) a
* Unity Alliance (AU)
* UNO-96 Alliance (UNO-96)
* Up with the Republic a
a = active
Regional Parties
* Authentic Costeño Autonomy Movement (MAAC)
* Coast Alliance (Alianza Costeña)
* Coast People’s Party (PPC)
* Costeño Democratic Alliance (ADECO)
* Multiethnic Indigenist Party (PIM)
* Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity (PAMUC) a
* Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) a
a = active
Historical
* National Opposition Union (UNO)
* 1966 National Opposition Union (UNO)
* Democratic Party
* Legitimist Party
* Nationalist Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Nacionalista) (PLN)
GUATEMALA
The President is elected to a one-time 4 year term. Vice Presidents can run for the Presidency after being out of office for 4 years. The Congress of the Republic’s members are elected to a congruent 4 year term. It has 158 total members, with 31 being elected through nationwide proportional representation and the remainder being elected from 23 Multi-member departmental districts (the department containing the capital is made of two districts; all other districts are matched with one department). The number of members was increased from 113 in 2003.
Parties and their strengths change often and have not really settled since the end of the civil war.
Brief Timeline
1945-Christian Socialist Juan Jose Arevalo is first civilian elected president in a very long time
1951-Jacobo Arbenz elected
1954-Arbenz overthrown in coup. Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas installed as prez
1957- Armas assassinated. General Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes assumes presidency
1963-Defense Minister, Colonel Enrique Peralta Azurdia leads Coup against Fuentes
1966-Center left Julio César Méndez Montenegro elected president
1970-Colonel Carlos Manuel Arana Osorio elected president
1974-General Kjell Lauguerud García elected president. Opponent claims fraud.
1978-General Romeo Lucas García elected president
1982-General Efrain Rios Mott overthrows gov’t, leads junta. Ríos Montt overthrown by General Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores, who called for national constitutional assembly to write a new constitution,
1986-free elections, won by Christian Democrat Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo,
1991-Jorge Antonio Serrano Elías of Solidarity Action movement becomes president
1993 Serrano attempts auto-golpe. Forced to resign. Ramiro de Leon appointed prez
1996 Guatemalan civil war ends with negotiations between guerillas and gov’t
1996-National Progress Party Álvaro Enrique Arzú Irigoyen elected prez
2000-Guatemalan republican front Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera elected prez
2004-Grand National Alliance Óscar Berger Perdomo elected prez
2008-National Unity of Hope Álvaro Colom Caballeros elected prez
2007 ELECTIONS SUMMARY
“As in 2003, poverty and crime remained main issues in the 2007 elections. Although President Berger had managed to stabilize the country’s economy, the gap between the rich and the poor remained a major underlying problem. Guatemala also has the highest murder rate in Latin America.
About a half of Guatemala’s population are indigenous Maya Indian (Mayan) people. In the 2007 elections, the Encounter for Guatemala (EG) endorsed Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Mayan activist, Ms. Rigoberta Menchú, as its presidential candidate. In 1999, she had brought a petition to try General Ríos Montt in a Spanish tribunal for crimes against humanity, accusing him of giving orders to carry out acts of genocide in 1981 and 1982.
Mr. Colom (UNE), a former deputy minister of the economy, argued that crime was caused by Guatemala’s deep social problems, including poverty, marginalization, and discrimination. He pledged to introduce a comprehensive "human solidarity programme" to deal with crime and achieve security in the country. He promised to reform the security forces and the judicial system, while creating jobs and providing a social programme for the poor.
Mr. Molina (PP) promised to increase the police force by 50 per cent, to use the army to clamp down on criminals, and to re-introduce the death penalty. Mr. Giammattei (GANA) vowed to introduce tougher regulations to deal with crime.
At least 50 people were killed during the election campaign, making the poll the bloodiest since the end of the Civil War. Victims included the 14 year old daughter of a UNE parliamentary candidate, and an assistant to the UNE's vice-presidential candidate. Some of the killings were reportedly caused by drug gangs who wished to see candidates of their choice accede to political office. The Organization of American States (OAS) urged the government to launch an investigation into the killings.”
PRESIDENTIAL
First Round
CandidatosOrg. PolíticaVotos/VotesPorcentaje (%)
Alvaro Colom UNE 1.449.153 52.82%
General Otto Perez Molina PP 1.294.645 47.18%
Second Round
CandidatosOrg. PolíticaVotos/VotesPorcentaje (%)
Alvaro Colom* UNE 926.244 28.23
General Otto Perez Molina* PP 771.175 23.51
Alejandro Giammatei GANA 565.270 17.23
Eduardo Suger CASA 244.448 7.45
Luis Rabbe FRG 239.208 7.29
Mario Estrada UCN 103.603 3.16
Rigoberta Menchu Cun EG 101.316 3.09
Fritz Garcia Gallon PU 95.743 2.92
Oscar Castañeda PAN 83.826 2.56
Miguel Sandoval URNG-MAIZ 70.080 2.14
Manuel Conde UD 24.971 0.76
Pablo Monsanto ANN 19.377 0.59
DIA 18.819 0.57
Mario Cerezo DCG 16.529 0.50
LEGISLATIVE
Political Group CandidatesVotes % Seats
National Unity for Hope Party (UNE) 926'244 28.23 51
Great National Alliance (GANA) 565'270 17.23 35
Patriotic Party (PP) 771'175 23.51 31
Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) 239'208 .29 14
Unionist Party (PU) 95'743 2.927
Center of Social Action (CASA) 244'448 7.45 5
Nationalist Change Union (UCN) 103'603 3.16 5
Encounter for Guatemala (EG) 101'3163.09 4
National Advancement Party (PAN) 83'826 2.56 3
Guatemalan Revolutionary Unity (URNG) 70'080 2.14 2
Democratic Union (UD) n.a.n.a.1
2003 ELECTIONS SUMMARY
PRESIDENTIAL
Second Round: December 27, 2003
- Oscar J. R. Berger Perdomo. Alianza GANA: (PP-MR-PSN) 54.13 %
- Álvaro Colom Caballeros. (UNE) 45.87 %
First Round: Final results from the first round presidential election in November 9th, 2003 are:
- J. Efraín Ríos Montt. (FRG) 19.32%
- Rodrigo Asturias Amado. (URNG) 2.58%
- José E. Suger Cofiño. DIA (DIA) 2.23%
- Oscar J. R. Berger Perdomo. Alianza GANA: (PP-MR-PSN) 34.32%
- Leonel López Rodas. (P A N) 8.35%
- Fritz García-Gallont Bischof. (PU) 3.02%
- Álvaro Colom Caballeros. (UNE) 26.36%
- José A. Lee Duarte. (DSP) 1.40%
- Juan Jacobo Arbenz Vilanova. (DCG) 1.57%
- Manuel E. Conde Orellana. (MSPCN) 0.40%
- Francisco A. Arredondo Mendoza. (UN) 0.45%
LEGISLATIVE
Political GroupVotes%Seats
Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) 470 554 19.43 42
Grand National Alliance (GANA) 592 964 24.49 41
National Unity for Hope Party (UNE) 426 184 17.60 31
National Advancement Party (PAN) 250 434 10.34 18
Unionist Party 138 713 5.73 7
New Nation Alliance (ANN) 70 397 2.91 6
Guatemalan Revolutionary Unity (URNG)n.a. n.a. 2
Democratic Union (UD)n.a. n.a. 2
Independents n.a. n.a. 3
Other parties n.a. n.a.6
* Democratic Union (Unión Democrática)
* Encuentro por Guatemala
* Grand National Alliance (Gran Alianza Nacional)
* Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca)
* Guatemalan Republican Front (Frente Republicano Guatemalteco)
* National Advancement Party (Partido de Avanzada Nacional)
* National Unity of Hope (Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza)
* Nationalist Change Union (Unión del Cambio Nacionalista)
* Patriotic Party (Partido Patriota)
* Social Action Centre (Centro de Acción Social)
* Unionist Party (Partido Unionista)
Parties which did not contest the 2007 election
* Reform Movement (Movimiento Reformador)
* Social Democrat Party
Former parties
* Deregistered in 2003:
o Social Participative Democracy (Democracia Social Participativa)
o Transparency (Transparencia)
* Deregistered in 2007:
o Authentic Integral Development (Desarollo Integral Auténtico)
o Front for Democracy (Frente por la Democracia)
o Guatemalan Christian Democracy (Democracia Cristiana Guatemalteca)
o New Nation Alliance (Alianza Nueva Nación)
* Became the Grand National Alliance:
o National Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Nacional)
BELICE
Belize/Belice, formerly British Honduras is a parliamentary democracy and part of the British Commonwealth, so technically Queen Elizabeth is Queen of Belize. There is a Governor General appointed by the Queen, but he is powerless.
The legislature is made of a House of Representatives and a Senate. The 13 member senate is appointed for 5 year terms by GG on advice of: 6 by the prime minister, 3 by the opposition, 1 by the church, 1 by business, 1 by unions. Senate President may be designated from outside the senate if desired and is chosen by Senators.The House of Representatives has 31 directly elected members plus speaker may be designated from outside. Members serve 5 year terms.
The two main parties are the center-left social democratic United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Christian Democrat People’s United Party (PUP)
Brief Timeline
1949-UK devalues Belizean dollar. Economy worsens. People’s Committee that later becomes PUP formed to push for independence