At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Paraguay

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Federico FRANCO Gómez *
• Head of Government: President Federico FRANCO Gómez **
• 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 the chief of state and head of government.

** President-Elect Horacio CARTES will be inaugurated in August 2013.

Description of electoral system:

• The 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 Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Horacio CARTES
  • Party: Colorado Party / Partito Colorado
• Efraín ALEGRE
  • Party: Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) / Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico
• Mario FERREIRO***
  • Coalition: Forward Country (AP) / Avanza Pais
• Miguel CARRIZOSA
  • Party: Beloved Fatherland (PQ) / Patria Querida
• Anibal CARRILLO*****
  • Coalition: Front Guasu (FG) / Frente Guasú

*** AP is a coalition of opposition parties.
***** FG is a coalition of center-left and left opposition parties supported by former President Fernando Lugo.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 6,465,669 (2013)
• Registered Voters: 3,516,275 (2013)

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

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

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.)