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General Information
ADDRESSES OF THE MINISTRIES
On the other hand, the existence of a single official
party is incompatible with a democratic system and
with the form of government established under the
Constitution. Thus, in El Salvador one single political
party cannot exist. According to the Electoral Code,
a party must obtain at least 3% of the valid ballots of
an election to maintain its status without disappearing.
At present the Farabundo Marti’s National Liberation
Front (FMLN), left wing party, has been ruling the
country since April 2009, with Mauricio Funes
as President of the Republic. Apart from José
Napoleón Duarte (1984-1989) from the Christian
Democrat Party (PDC), the National Republican
Alliance (ARENA), right wing, had ruled the country
for 20 years with presidents such as: Alfredo Cristiani
(1989-1994); Armando Calderón Sol (1994-1999);
Francisco Flores (1999-2004); and Elías Antonio
Saca (2004-2009).
Other political parties are the Democratic
Change (CD), moderate left wing; the National
Conciliation Party (PCN), center right; and the
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), center. It is
worth mentioning a newly emerged political party,
the Great National Alliance (GANA) formed with
dissidents of ARENA, upsetting the political structure
that had existed until then.
Cities and Departments
Territorial organization
El Salvador is divided into 14 departments.
Geographically, they are grouped in three zones.
These are Western, Eastern and Central. Each
department is subdivided into municipalities,
which have autonomy in economical, technical
and administrative matters. They are ruled by their
corresponding Municipal Council that is elected
every three years by public vote. In the territory of
each municipality there is a head which is nominated
for town, village or city. Within the district there are
“cantones”, which are composed of villages.
San Salvador is the capital and the largest city
of the country. It has a population of 1,522,126
inhabitants. Among the main cities are: Santa Ana
(pop. 202,337), center of an important agricultural
region; San Miguel (pop.145, 000); and Mejicanos
(pop.101, 139), one of the suburbs of San Salvador.
The population by department figures are as follows
GEOGRAPHY
Department
San Salvador
La Libertad
Santa Ana
Sonsonate
San Miguel
Usulután
Ahuachapán
Population
1,567,156
666,652
523,655
438,960
434,003
344,235
319,503
Ministry of Economy
Alameda Juan Pablo II y Calle Guadalupe
Edificio C1-C2 Centro de Gobierno San Salvador
Tel: (PBX:) (+503) 2231 5600 - info@minec.gob.sv
Ministry of Treasury
Boulevard Los Héroes 1231, San Salvador
Switchboard: 2244-3000
Ministry of Education
Edificio E Plan Maestro, Centro de Gobierno,
Alameda Juan Pablo II y Calle Guadalupe
San Salvador
Tel: (+503) 2281 0044 / (+503) 2281 0077
educacion@mined.gob.sv
Ministry of Public Works, Transportation,
Housing And Urban Development
PlanTel: La Lechuza,
Carretera a Santa Tecla Km 5 ½,
San Salvador
Tel: (+503) 2528 3000 - info@mop.gob.sv
Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle
Final 1a. Ave. Norte y Ave. Manuel Gallardo,
Santa Tecla
Tel: (+503) 2241 1700 - info@mag.gob.sv
Ministry of Tourism and Corsatur
(Tourism Corporation)
Edificio Carbonell 1, Colonia Roma
Alameda Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo
Pasaje Carbonell, San Salvador
Tel: (+503) 2243 7835 / 2241 3200
Fax: (+503) 2223 6120
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Calle El Pedregal, Blvd. Cancillería, 500 mts. Al
poniente del Campus II de la Universidad “José
Matías Delgado”, Ciudad Merliot, Antiguo Cuscatlán
Tel: PBX: (+503) 2231 1000 / 2231 2900
Fax: (+503) 2289 8016
webmaster@rree.gob.sv