Central American Parliament
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PBP
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/* 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 América 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]]