El Salvador Government Profile 2009

Overview of the Republic's Political History and Structure

Mar 16, 2009

The democratic republic has a population of a little over 7 million people. The Spanish, led by Admiral Andres Nino first landed on Meanguera Island on May 31, 1522.

Three years later after a small war to conquer the local tribes, Diego de Alvarado established San Salvador as a village in April of1525 and in 1546, Charles I of Spain granted San Salvador was titled as the main city in the region. Today San Salvador remains as the capital of El Salvador. The country gained its independence from Spain in September 15th, 1821 and then again from the Central American Federation in 1839. El Salvador, like many Central American countries, was plagued with civil wars and instability. The most recent war lasted from 1980-1992 and ended when leftist rebels, now the country's governing political party, and the government signed a treaty that reformed the military and the country's political structure. The country's first constitution was signed in 1983 during the civil war.

Salvadoran Executive Branch

The President of El Salvador is Mauricio Funes, a member of the Farabundo Marti national Liberation Front (FMLN). The FMLN is country's leading left-wing political party and was the rebel guerilla group that led the civil war that ended in 1992. The president is elected by an absolute majority and serves for a 5-year term. If there is no absolute majority, then a second election is help until a candidate receives more than 50% of the first round votes. The last elections were held March 15th, 2009. The FMLN won with a slight majority. El Salvador has universal suffrage, meaning male and female can vote, and voting age is 18.

Salvadoran Legislative Branch

EL Salvador has a unicameral legislative assembly with eighty-four seats. Members are elected by popular vote and serve for three-year terms. The next elections will be held in march 2012.

Salvadoran Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is led by the Supreme Court with fifteen judges. The law of the land is structured around civil and Roman law, with a few traces of common law. The judges are appointed by the legislative assembly. They are then divided amongst four Supreme Court chambers named the constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict chambers. The court has yet to accept compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction.

Political Parties in El Salvador

The main political parties of El Salvador are the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), the Democratic Convergence (CD), Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), National Conciliation party (PCN), National Republican Alliance (ARENA), Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), and the Revolutionary Democratic Front (FDR).

References:

McDermott, Jeremy, El Salvador Election: Former Guerilla Party FMLN Wins Presidency. Telegraph.co.uk. March 16, 2009.

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