At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Paraguay

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Luis Angel GONZALEZ MACCHI *
• Head of Government: President Luis Angel GONZALEZ MACCHI
• Assembly: Paraguay has a bicameral Congress (Congreso) consisting of the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) with 45 seats and the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) with 80 seats.

* GONZALEZ MACCHI became president when elected president Raul CUBAS Garu was impeached for his involvement in the assassination of Vice President Luis Maria ARGANA.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by plurality vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) 45 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms*. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 80 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms.**

* Senators are elected in one national constituency.

** The Chamber of deputies is divided into 18 multi member constituencies.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS
  • Party: National Republican Association
• Julio César FRANCO
  • Party: Authentic Radical Liberal Party
• Pedro FADUL
  • Party: Beloved Fatherland Movement
• Guillermo Sánchez GUFFANTI
  • Party: National Union of Ethical Citizens
• Other Candidates
• Independents

Last presidential election:

• The last presidential election was held on May 10, 1998.

Population and registered voters:

• Population: 5,607,948 (2003)
• Registered Voters: 2,405,108 (2003)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,769,241 (2003)

·         Is Paraguay a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Paraguay ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (12 January 1995)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 7 (Chamber of Deputies); 4 (Senate) following the 2003 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 112 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Paraguay a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Paraguay ratified CRPD: Yes (3 September 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 841,192 (est.)