Paraguay: Chamber of Senators, 22 April 2018

At stake in this election:

• 45 seats in the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Horacio CARTES *
• Head of Government: President Horacio CARTES **
• 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.

* The President is both Chief of State and Head of Government.

** President-Elect Mario ABDO Benítez will be inaugurated 15 August 2018.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) 45 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 80 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: National Republican Association / Colorado Party / Asociacion Nacional Republicana (ANR)
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 17
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 19
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 44
• Party: Authentic Liberal Radical Party / Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (PLRA)
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 13
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 12
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 27
• Party: Beloved Fatherland / Patria Querida (PQ)
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 3
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 1
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 1
• Party: Let's Do It / Partido Hagamos  
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 2
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 0
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 
• Party: Green Party / Partido Verde Paraguay​ 
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 0
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 0
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 0
• Party: Democratic Progress / Partido Democratico Progresista
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 2
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 0
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 0
• Coalition: Front Guasu (FG) / Frente Guasú (FG)****
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 6
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 5
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 1
• Party: National Crusade Movement / Movimiento Cruzada Nacional
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 1
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 0
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: N/A
• Party: We Are Paraguay / Movimiento Politico Somos Paraguay​
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 0
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 2
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 2
• Party: National Union of Ethical Citizens / Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (UNACE)******
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Senators election: 1
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Senators election: 2
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 2

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 6,465,669 (2013)
• Registered Voters: 4,241,507 (2018)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 3,184,123 (2013)

·         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: 14 (Chamber of Deputies); 9 (Senate) following the 2008 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: 969,850 (est.)