Parlacen, a bizarre parliament, is a refuge for bent politicians
A seat in the Central American body offers immunity from prosecution
The Central American Parliament (Parlacen) is not popular. It is a space of “impunity, nepotism and waste” according to one Guatemalan congressman. José Raúl Mulino, Panama’s president, laments that he cannot “sign a decree to pull us out of Parlacen today”. In El Salvador’s general election in March many voters refused to fill in Parlacen ballots. “Look for honest work, stop being parasites,” read one spoiled paper.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Impunity machine”
From the November 23rd 2024 edition
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