Central American Parliament 583268 225928690 2008-07-16T01:45:26Z PBP 35746 /* 2007 assassination */ The '''Central American Parliament''', also known by the abbreviation '''Parlacen''' (from the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] ''Parlamento Centroamericano'') is a [[Politics|political]] [[institution]] devoted to the [[Regional integration|integration]] of the [[Central America]]n [[Country|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 war]]s in [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]] and [[Nicaragua]]. Although the Contadora was [[Dissolution of parliament|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]]<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/nt/548/548071/548071en.pdf Am&#233;rica Central<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Structure== 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== {{main|February 2007 Guatemalan congressmen killings}} On [[February 19]], [[2007]], three [[El Salvador|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)] ==See also== [[Central American Court of Justice]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==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] {{Supranationalism/World government topics|state=autocollapse}} [[Category:Parliamentary assemblies]] [[Category:Central America]] [[Category:Foreign relations of Guatemala]] [[Category:Foreign relations of El Salvador]] [[Category:Foreign relations of Honduras]] [[Category:Foreign relations of Nicaragua]] [[Category:Foreign relations of Panama]] [[Category:Foreign relations of the Dominican Republic]] {{CentralAm-stub}} [[cs:Středoamerický parlament]] [[es:Parlamento Centroamericano]] [[fr:Parlement centraméricain]] [[it:Parlamento Centro-Americano]] [[pt:Parlamento Centro-Americano]]