Government (Nicaragua)
======================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Nicaragua
     Type:
         republic
     Capital:
         Managua
     Administrative divisions:
         9 administrative regions encompassing 17 departments (departamentos,
         singular - departamento); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli,
         Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic
         Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South
         Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
     Independence:
         15 September 1821 (from Spain)
     Constitution:
         January 1987
     Legal system:
         civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
     National holiday:
         Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
     Executive branch:
         president, vice president, Cabinet
     Legislative branch:
         National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts
     Leaders:
       Chief of State and Head of Government:
         President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President
         Virgilio GODOY (since 25 April 1990)
     Political parties and leaders:
       ruling coalition:
         National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 14-party alliance - National
         Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS; Conservative Popular Alliance
         Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; National Conservative Action Party (PANC),
         Hernaldo ZUNIGA; National Democratic Confidence Party (PDCN), Augustin
         JARQUIN; Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO; Neo-Liberal
         Party (PALI), Andres ZUNIGA; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose
         Ernesto SOMARRIBA; National Action Party (PAN), Eduardo RIVAS; Nicaraguan
         Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo TABLADA; Communist Party of Nicaragua
         (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Luis
         Humberto GUZMAN; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; Social
         Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY; Central American Integrationist
         Party (PIAC), Alejandro PEREZ
       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), Mauricio DIAZ
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 16