Elections to the Central American Parliament

The [[Central American Parliament]] (PARLACEN) was established by its [[Constitutive Treaty of the Central American Parliament|Constitutive Treaty]] in October 1987.{{cite web | title=Tratado Constitutivo | url=https://www.sica.int/busqueda/busqueda_archivo.aspx?Archivo=trat_1271_2_02062005.htm& }} The primary objective of the institution was regional integration for the sake of mutual betterment.https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/default/files/document/files/2024/05/cr20hn20gt20ni20sv860525esquipulasi.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=December 2025}} According to the [[Esquipulas Peace Agreement|Esquipulas Declaration]] of 1986, which began the process that ultimately led to the creation of the Parliament, there existed a "need to undertake efforts aimed at understanding and co-operation and to back them up with institutional machinery for strengthening dialogue, joint development, democracy and pluralism [...]." The Declaration determined that PARLACEN representatives should be selected in free, inclusive, and direct elections.

The [[Central American Parliament]] (PARLACEN) was established by its [[Constitutive Treaty of the Central American Parliament|Constitutive Treaty]] in October 1987.{{cite web | title=Tratado Constitutivo | url=https://www.sica.int/busqueda/busqueda_archivo.aspx?Archivo=trat_1271_2_02062005.htm& }} The primary objective of the institution was regional integration for the sake of mutual betterment.https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/default/files/document/files/2024/05/cr20hn20gt20ni20sv860525esquipulasi.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=December 2025}} According to the [[Esquipulas Peace Agreement|Esquipulas Declaration]] of 1986, which began the process that ultimately led to the creation of the Parliament, there existed a "need to undertake efforts aimed at understanding and co-operation and to back them up with institutional machinery for strengthening dialogue, joint development, democracy and pluralism [...]." The Declaration determined that PARLACEN representatives should be selected in free, inclusive, and direct elections.

After Costa Rica failed to ratify the [[Constitutive Treaty of the Central American Parliament|Constitutive Treaty]], the other initial signatories approved the [[Protocol to the Treaty on the Establishment of the Central American Parliament and Other Political Organs]], which amended the [[Constitutive Treaty of the Central American Parliament|Constitutive Treaty]] to allow the PARLACEN to be created without ratification by Costa Rica.https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%201777/v1777.pdf {{Bare URL inline|date=January 2026}}

After Costa Rica failed to ratify the [[Constitutive Treaty of the Central American Parliament|Constitutive Treaty]], the other initial signatories approved the [[Protocol to the Treaty on the Establishment of the Central American Parliament and Other Political Organs]], which amended the [[Constitutive Treaty of the Central American Parliament|Constitutive Treaty]] to allow the PARLACEN to be created without ratification by Costa Rica.https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%201777/v1777.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com {{Bare URL inline|date=January 2026}}

The meaning of the term 'direct' in the context of elections to the PARLACEN differs in application among the member states. In El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, voters normally select individual parties or candidates specifically for the PARLACEN in a vote that is separate from other contests. In the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Panama, the votes won by parties or candidates in the national presidential or parliamentary elections are normally applied proportionally among the parties with regard to their respective slates of nominated PARLACEN candidates. While these are considered to be direct elections as the representatives are chosen by ballot, voters in these countries do not select candidates or parties separately for the PARLACEN.

The meaning of the term 'direct' in the context of elections to the PARLACEN differs in application among the member states. In El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, voters normally select individual parties or candidates specifically for the PARLACEN in a vote that is separate from other contests. In the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Panama, the votes won by parties or candidates in the national presidential or parliamentary elections are normally applied proportionally among the parties with regard to their respective slates of nominated PARLACEN candidates. While these are considered to be direct elections as the representatives are chosen by ballot, voters in these countries do not select candidates or parties separately for the PARLACEN.