Central American Parliament

The Central American Parliament, also known by the abbreviation Parlacen (from the Spanish "Parlamento Centroamericano") is a political institution devoted to the integration of the Central American countries. This organization is a member of the Central American Integration System (SICA)

The Parlacen represents a modern renewal of the historic Federal Republic of Central America which existed from 1823 to 1840. Costa Rica is the only one of the original five states not to join Parlacen, but in its place are two new contributors: Panama (which was once part of Colombia, or rather New Granada, and so was not one of the original Central American states) and the Dominican Republic.

The Parlacen has its more recent origins in the Contadora Group, a project launched in the 1980s to help deal with civil wars in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Although the Contadora was dissolved in 1986, the idea for Central American Integration remained, and its works were taken by the Esquipulas Peace Agreement, which, among other acts, agreed to the creation of the Central American Parliament.

The following countries each return 20, 21, or 22 directly elected deputies to the Parliament:
*El Salvador
*Guatemala
*Honduras
*Nicaragua
*Panama
*Dominican Republic

In spite of its efforts to promote the Esquipulas Agreement, Costa Rica has not yet ratified and is consequently not represented in the Parlacen. It has been seen by many as a white elephant [ [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/nt/548/548071/548071en.pdf Amrica Central ] ]

tructure

The Parlacen has three branches: Plenum, Board of Parliament, and Secretariat.

The Parliamentary Parties

If ten members of at least two or more countries join together, they can from a Parliamentary Group.

*The Democratic Centre (CD)
*The Democratic Alliance of Central America (ADC)
*The Parliamentary Group of the Lefts (GPI)
*Democratic Convergency of Central America (CDC)
*Democratic Integration

2007 assassinations

On February 19, 2007, three Salvadoran deputies and their driver were murdered in Guatemala [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_6386000/6386813.stm] . These killings remain unsolved.

Source

* [http://www.parlacen.org.gt Parlamento Centroamericano (in Spanish)]

ee also

Central American Court of Justice

References

External links

* [http://www.sica.int/ Central American Integration System (SICA)]
* [http://www.guyanajournal.com/caricom_integration.html Guyana Journal (2007-07): Advancing Integration Between Caricom and Central America]