This article lists political parties in Nicaragua.
Historically, Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

 had a two-party system

Two-party system

A two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...

, with varying two dominant political parties

Political Parties

Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...

. However, the 2006 general election

Nicaraguan general election, 2006

Nicaragua held a general election on 5 November 2006. The country's voters went to the polls to elect a new President of the Republic and 90 members of the National Assembly, all of whom will serve five-year terms...

 could have marked the end of the bipartite scheme, as the anti-Sandinista forces split into two major political alliances: the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance

Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance

The Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance is a political party in Nicaragua. It was started in 2005 by Eduardo Montealegre and other members of the Constitutional Liberal Party who opposed former President of the country Arnoldo Alemán's continued control of the PLC even after he had been found guilty of...

 (ALN) and the Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC).

Major parties

Four parties and alliances currently hold seats in the National Assembly

National Assembly of Nicaragua

The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua.-Composition:The Nicaraguan legislature is a unicameral body....

:

Name			Ideology	Deputies National Assembly of Nicaragua The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua.-Composition:The Nicaraguan legislature is a unicameral body....
	Sandinista National Liberation Front Sandinista National Liberation Front The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish... Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional	FSLN	Socialism Socialism Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...	38
	Constitutionalist Liberal Party Partido Liberal Constitucionalista	PLC	Liberal conservatism Liberal conservatism Liberal conservatism also known as progressive conservatism is a variant of political conservatism which incorporates liberal elements. As "conservatism" and "liberalism" have had different meanings over time and across countries, the term "liberal conservatism" has been used in quite different...	25
	Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance The Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance is a political party in Nicaragua. It was started in 2005 by Eduardo Montealegre and other members of the Constitutional Liberal Party who opposed former President of the country Arnoldo Alemán's continued control of the PLC even after he had been found guilty of... Alianza Liberal Nicaragüense	ALN	Conservative liberalism Conservative liberalism Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....	23
	Sandinista Renovation Movement Sandinista Renovation Movement The Sandinista Renovation Movement is a Nicaraguan political party founded by dissidents of the Sandinista National Liberation Front on May 18, 1995, on Augusto César Sandino's 100th anniversary... Movimiento Renovador Sandinista	MRS	Socialism Socialism Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...	5

Other parties

• Alliance for the Republic
  Alliance for the Republic
  The Alliance for the Republic is a right-wing liberal-conservative Nicaraguan political party founded in 2004 by dissident liberals from the Constitutional Liberal Party and the Conservative Party including Enrique Bolaños, who was President of Nicaragua at the time.APRE won 3 major offices in...
  
   (APRE) a
• Alternative for Change
  Alternative for Change
  Alternative for Change , formerly known as "Christian Alternative," is a Nicaraguan political party.It was founded by dissidents from the Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path , most notably Orlando Tardencilla...
  
   (AC) a
• Central American Unionist Party
  Central American Unionist Party
  The Central American Unionist Party is a center-right Nicaraguan political party.PUCA was originally established as a cultural grouping advocating 'Central Americanization' in 1904. Renamed the Committee of State in 1944, it began to act as a political party after the Sandanistas gained power in...
  
   (PUCA) a
• Communist Party of Nicaragua
  Communist Party of Nicaragua
  Communist Party of Nicaragua is a communist political party in Nicaragua. Founded as the Partido Obrero Socialista in 1967...
  
   (PCdeN) a
• Christian Democratic Union
  Nicaraguan Christian Democratic Union
  The Christian Democratic Union is a Nicaraguan political party founded by the center-left Popular Social Christian Party and the center-right Democratic Party of National Confidence in 1992. As of 2006, the UDC is part of the Sandinista National Liberation Front alliance....
  
   (UDC) a
• Christian Unity Movement
  Christian Unity Movement
  Christian Unity Movement , was founded by dissidents from the Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path in year 2000. As of 2006, MUC is part of the Sandinista National Liberation Front alliance....
  
   (MUC) a
• Conservative Party
  Conservative Party of Nicaragua
  The Conservative Party is a conservative political party in Nicaragua.The party's colour is green and its emblem is a torch of freedom in a circle. Its slogan is “Dios, Orden, Justicia” , often depicted on the three sides of a triangle.-History:The conservative party is the oldest currently...
  
   (PC) a
• Ecologist Green Party of Nicaragua
  Ecologist Green Party of Nicaragua
  The Ecologist Green Party of Nicaragua is a political party in Nicaragua. It was founded in Managua on November 23, 2003. The president of the organisation is Edward Martín Salazar Cruz...
  
   (PVEN) a
• Great Liberal Union
  Great Liberal Union
  The Great Liberal Union is a right-wing Nicaraguan political party formed by President Bolaños and other dissidents from the Constitutionalist Liberal Party in 2004. After signing an electoral alliance with the Conservative Party, both organizations formed the Alliance for the Republic in 2005...
  
   (GUL)
• Independent Liberal Party
  Independent Liberal Party (Nicaragua)
  The Independent Liberal Party is a Nicaraguan centre-right political party separated from Somoza's Nationalist Liberal Party in 1944, and formed in 1947. PLI participated in 1984 election, winning 9.6% of vote for President with its candidate Virgilio Godoy...
  
   (PLI) a
• Liberal Alliance
  Liberal Alliance
  Liberal Alliance may stand for:*Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, a political grouping in the European Parliament*Liberal Alliance of Montenegro, a political party active in Montenegro...
  
   (AL) a
• Marxist-Leninist Popular Action Movement (MAP-ML) a
• New Liberal Party
  New Liberal Party (Nicaragua)
  The Neoliberal Party is a Nicaraguan neoliberal centre-right political party that split from the Independent Liberal Party in 1986. PALI received legal status on appeal in 1989. In 2006, PLIUN was part of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party electoral alliance in the 2006 general election....
  
   (PALI) a
• Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path
  Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path
  The Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path is a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1996 by the Assemblies of God pastor Guillermo Osorno. CCN participated for the first time in the Nicaraguan general elections in 1996 where they got 4.10% of the votes and 4 seats in the National Assembly.In...
  
   (CCN) a
• Nicaraguan Resistance Party
  Nicaraguan Resistance Party
  The Nicaraguan Resistance Party is a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1993 by the Contras, the armed opposition to the Sandinista government in the 1980s....
  
   (PRN) a
• Nicaraguan Socialist Party
  Nicaraguan Socialist Party
  The Nicaraguan Socialist Party is a political party in Nicaragua. Founded in July 1944 by Dr. Mario Flores Ortiz. PSN operated as the official communist party in the country. At the time of its foundation, PSN supported the regime of Anastasio Somoza García. PSN considered that Somoza was an...
  
   (PSN) a
• Party for Citizen Action
  Party for Citizen Action
  The Party for Citizen Action is a Nicaraguan political party founded by the former legislative representative of the Sandinista Renovation Movement in the National Assembly , Jorge Samper. After an ephemeral alliance with Alliance for the Republic in 2005, the PAC is, as of 2006, part of the MRS...
  
   (PAC) a
• Popular Conservative Alliance
  Popular Conservative Alliance
  The Popular Conservative Alliance is a right-wing conservative Nicaraguan political party. The APC split from the Democratic Conservative Party in 1984 and received legal status in 1989. As of 2006, the APC and its leader, Miriam Argüello, is in alliance with the Sandinista National Liberation...
  
   (APC) a

a = active

Defunct parties or parties with no legal status

• Christian Alternative Party (AC)
• Conservative Action Movement
  Conservative Action Movement
  The Conservative Action Movement is a conservative Nicaraguan political party founded in 1996. The MAC contested in the 1996 general elections as part of the UNO-96 Alliance. The party lost its legal status in 2005....
  
   (MAC)
• Conservative Alliance
  Conservative Alliance
  The Conservative Alliance is a Nicaraguan political party founded in year 2000 by conservatives loyal to the then President Arnoldo Alemán. The members of ALCON are erroneusly referred to as "the purple ones", as the popular thought of mixing the green and red colors gives purple...
  
   (ALCON) a
• Democratic Conservative Party
  Democratic Conservative Party
  The Democratic Conservative Party is a Nicaraguan political party with a traditional conservative ideology. The party was formed in 1979...
  
   (PCD)
• Democratic Party of National Confidence
  Democratic Party of National Confidence
  The Democratic Party of National Confidence is a Nicaraguan political party founded by Agustín Jarquín and Adán Fletes after a split from Social Christian Party in 1986. The PDCN received legal status on appeal in 1989...
  
   (PDCN)
• Independent Liberal Party for National Unity
  Independent Liberal Party for National Unity
  The Independent Liberal Party for National Unity is a Nicaraguan centre-right party that split from the Independent Liberal Party in 1984 as a consequence of PLI's decision to participate in the 1984 elections. PLIUN received legal status in 1989...
  
   (PLIUN) a
• Liberal Salvation Movement (MSL)
• National Action Party
  National Action Party (Nicaragua)
  The National Action Party is a right-wing Nicaraguan political party founded by Eduardo Rivas Gasteazoro in 1985 as a split from the Social Christian Party in 1985. The PAN received legal status on appeal in 1989. PAN was part of the National Opposition Union coalition and won 3 seats in the...
  
   (PAN)
• National Conservative Action
  National Conservative Action
  The National Conservative Action is a right-wing conservative Nicaraguan political party founded in 1956. The ANC was part of the National Opposition Union coalition in the 1990 elections and got two representatives in the National Assembly, out of UNO's 51...
  
   (ANC)
• National Conservative Unity Party (PUNC)
• National Democratic Party (PND)
• National Project
  National Project
  The National Project was a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1995 by Antonio Lacayo, son-in-law of Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. Lacayo was prohibited from running in the 1996 elections by the Supreme Electoral Council due to his family ties with President Chamorro. PRONAL ran instead with...
  
   (PRONAL)
• National Unity Movement
  National Unity Movement (Nicaragua)
  The National Unity Movement is a Nicaraguan political party founded in year 2000 by retired army chief and Sandinista dissident Joaquín Cuadra. In the 2004 Municipal Elections, the MUN contested in alliance with Alliance for the Republic . As of 2006, the MUN is part of the Sandinista Renovation...
  
   (MUN) a
• Nicaraguan Democratic Movement
  Nicaraguan Democratic Movement
  The Nicaraguan Democratic Movement is a right-wing Nicaraguan political party with social democratic ideology. The MDN was formed in 1978 and re-registered in 1989. MDN was the first Contra party given legal status in Nicaragua. After receiving a small amount of votes, the MDN lost its legal...
  
   (MDN) a
• Popular Social Christian Party
  Popular Social Christian Party
  The Popular Social Christian Party , a 1978 off-shoot of the Social Christian Party is a Nicaraguan political party. The PPSC got 6 seats in the 1984 Legislative elections and 3 seats seats in the 1990 elections. In 1992 the PPSC and the Democratic Party of National Confidence formed the...
  
   (PPSC)
• Revolutionary Unity Movement
  Revolutionary Unity Movement
  The Revolutionary Unity Movement is a Nicaraguan political party, founded in 1988 as a new Marxist party by defectors from the Marxist-Leninist Party of Nicaragua , Nicaraguan Communist Party , and the Sandinista National Liberation Front...
  
   (MUR)
• Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT)
• Social Christian Party
  Nicaraguan Social Christian Party
  The Social Christian Party is a Nicaraguan political party with Christian democrat ideology founded in 1957. As of 2006, the PSC is part of the Sandinista Renovation Movement alliance in the Nicaraguan general election, 2006....
  
   (PSC) a
• Social Conservative Party
  Social Conservative Party
  The Social Conservative Party is a right-wing conservative Nicaraguan political party founded by its leader Fernando Agüero back in 1988. The PSC received legal status in 1989 and participated in the 1990 elections as an independent party...
  
   (PSC)
• Social Democratic Party
  Social Democratic Party (Nicaragua)
  The Social Democratic Party is a right-wing Nicaraguan political party that split from Conservatives in 1979. The party sought affiliation to the Socialist International, but its application was rejected....
  
   (PSD) a
• Unity Alliance
  Unity Alliance
  The Unity Alliance was a Nicaraguan electoral alliance of three center left and right parties in the Nicaraguan 1996 elections. Members of the coalition were:*Social Christian Party *Social Democratic Party *Revolutionary Unity Movement...
  
   (AU)
• UNO-96 Alliance
  UNO-96 Alliance
  The UNO-96 Alliance was a Nicaraguan electoral alliance of three right-wing parties in the Nicaraguan 1996 elections. Members of the coalition were:*National Democratic Party *Conservative Action Movement *Nicaraguan Democratic Movement...
  
   (UNO-96)
• Up with the Republic
  Up with the Republic
  Up with the Republic , formerly known as Up with Nicaragua , is a Nicaraguan political party founded in 1996 by banker Álvaro Robelo....
  
   a

a = active

Regional Parties

• Authentic Costeño Autonomy Movement
  Authentic Costeño Autonomy Movement
  The Authentic Costeño Autonomy Movement is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in 1993 by Faran Dometz Hebbert, a Moravian pastor from Pearl Lagoon and former director of the Moravian High School in Bluefields. MAAC represents the Creole establishment...
  
   (MAAC)
• Coast Alliance
  Coast Alliance
  The Coast Alliance was a regional Nicaraguan political coalition of five parties founded in 1997 in opposition to the Constitutionalist Liberal Party and the Sandinista National Liberation Front...
  
   (Alianza Costeña)
• Coast People’s Party
  Coast People’s Party
  The Coast People's Party is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in 1997. The PPC contested in the 1998 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections as part of the Coast Alliance coalition who won 2 seats in the RAAS Regional Council....
  
   (PPC)
• Costeño Democratic Alliance
  Costeño Democratic Alliance
  The Costeño Democratic Alliance is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in 1993 by the Social Christian dissident Alvin Guthrie, former UNO governor of the South Atlantic Autonomous Region from 1990 to 1994. ADECO contested in the 1994 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections and won 1 seat in...
  
   (ADECO)
• Multiethnic Indigenist Party
  Multiethnic Indigenist Party
  The Multiethnic Indigenous Party is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in 1998 by the PLC dissident and Maranatha pastor Rayfield Hodgson, governor of the South Atlantic Autonomous Region from 1994 to 1998. The PIM contested in the 1998 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections and won 7 seats ...
  
   (PIM)
• Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity
  Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity
  The Multiethnic Party for Coast Unity is a regional Nicaraguan political party founded in year 2000. PAMUC has its base of supporters in the municipality of Waspam, in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region. The PAMUC contested in the 2002 Atlantic Coast Regional Elections and won 1 seat in the...
  
   (PAMUC) a
• Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) a

a = active

Historical

• National Opposition Union
  National Opposition Union
  National Opposition Union was a wide-range cartel of opposition parties formed to contest Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega in 1990 election. Its candidate Violeta Chamorro eventually won the race...
  
   (UNO)
• 1966 National Opposition Union
  1966 National Opposition Union
  The 1966 National Opposition Union was a Nicaraguan political coalition founded on October 24, 1966 by the Conservative Party , the Social Christian Party and the Independent Liberal Party to challenge the candidacy of Anastasio Somoza Debayle in the 1967 Nicaraguan presidential election...
  
   (UNO)
• Democratic Party
  Democratic Party (Nicaragua)
  The Democratic Party was a Nicaraguan political party in the 19th century. The power base of the liberal Democratic Party was in the city of León...
  
  
• Legitimist Party
  Legitimist Party (Nicaragua)
  The Legitimist Party was a conservative Nicaraguan political party in the 19th century. The power base of the Legitimist Party was in the city of Granada. The Legitimists were opposed to the Democrats...
  
  
• Nationalist Liberal Party
  Nationalist Liberal Party
  The Nationalist Liberal Party is a centre-right political party in Nicaragua. It was established by Anastasio Somoza García in the 1930s. When it was formed, it drew its members mainly from factions within the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party....
  
   (Partido Liberal Nacionalista) (PLN)

Popular subscription associations

• Civic Association of Potosí
  Civic Association of Potosí
  The Civic Association of Potosí is a Nicaraguan political organisation founded in 1996 in Potosí, Rivas, under the figure of a popular subscription association. The ACP won the municipal elections in Potosí in 1996 with about 38% of the valid votes....
  
   (ACP)
• Sol Association
  Sol Association
  The Sol Association is a Nicaraguan political organisation founded in 1996 in Managua, under the figure of a popular subscription association. The Sol Association participated in the 1996 municipal elections with Herty Lewites as the candidate for mayor of Managua. Lewites came in fourth with...
  
   (Asociación Sol)
• Viva Managua Movement
  Viva Managua Movement
  The Viva Managua Movement is a Nicaraguan political organisation founded in 1996 in Managua, under the figure of a popular subscription association. Viva Managua participated in the 1996 municipal elections with Pedro Solórzano as the candidate for mayor of Managua...
  
   (Movimiento Viva Managua)

also known as guetemplz

See also

• Politics of Nicaragua
  Politics of Nicaragua
  Nicaragua is a presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of Nicaragua is both head of state and head of government, and there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National...
  
  
• List of political parties by country
• Liberalism in Nicaragua
  Liberalism in Nicaragua
  This article gives an overview of liberalism in Nicaragua. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...