chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA (since 1 June 2004);
Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Elias Antonio SACA (since 1 June
2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 21 March
2004 (next to be held NA March 2009)
election results: Elias Antonio SACA elected president; percent of
vote - Elias Antonio SACA (ARENA) 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL (FMLN)
35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the
Legislative Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; United
Democratic Center or CDU [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general];
Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; Liberal Democratic
Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Action Party
or PAN [Gustavo Rogelio SALINAS, secretary general]; National
Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA, president]; National
Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio SACA]; Social Christian
Union or USC (formed by the merger of Christian Social Renewal Party
or PRSC and Unity Movement or MU) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or
SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and
other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of
Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or
UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union
of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvado