nas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union,
Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate,
Usulutan
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
20 December 1983
Legal system:
based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Armando CALDERON SOL (since 1 June 1994); Vice President
Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994) election last held 20
March 1994 (next to be held March 1999); results - Armando CALDERON
SOL (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel
CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%; because no candidate received
a majority, run off election was held 24 April 1994; results - Armando
CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa):
elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held March 1997);
results - ARENA 46.4%, FMLN 25.0%, PDC 21.4%, PCN 4.8%, other 2.4%;
seats - (84 total) ARENA 39, FMLN 21, PDC 18, PCN 4, other 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders:
National Republican Alliance (ARENA); Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front (FMLN) has five factions - Popular Liberation Forces
(FPL), Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN), Popular Expression
of Renewal (ERP), Salvadoran Communist Party (PCES), and
Central American Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRTC); Christian
Democratic Party (PDC); National Conciliation Party (PCN); Democratic
Convergence (CD), a coalition of three parties - the Social Democratic
Party (PSD), Democratic Nationalist Union (UDN), and the Popular
Social Christian Movement (MPSC); Authentic Christian Movement (MAC)
note:
new party leaders not yet designated at time of publication
Other political or pressure groups:
labor organizations:
Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association; General
Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate; United Workers Front (FUT)
business organizations:
Productive Alliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of
Salvadoran Small Businessmen (