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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Honduras
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Country in Central America, bounded to the N
by the Caribbean, to the SE by Nicaragua, to
the S by the Pacific, to the SW by El
Salvador, and to the W and NW by Guatemala.
government The 1982 constitution, which
underwent a major revision 1985, provides for
the election of a president, who is head of
both state and government, by universal
suffrage for a four-year term, and may not
serve two terms in succession. A
single-chamber national assembly of 134
members is elected in the same way for a
similar term. There is a range of political
parties which sometimes unite to form broad
alliances for election purposes. The most
significant are the Liberal Party of Honduras
(PLH) and the National Party (PN). history
Formerly inhabited by Mayan Indians, and
reached by Christopher Columbus 1502, the
area was colonized by Spain from 1526.
Independent from Spain 1821, Honduras was
part of the United Provinces of Central
America until 1838, when it achieved full
independence. From 1939 to 1949 it was a
dictatorship under the leader of the PN. The
government changed in a series of military
coups, until the return of civilian rule
1980. The army, however, controlled security
and was able to veto cabinet appointments,
and although the 1981 general election was
won by the PLH and its leader, Dr Roberto
Suazo, became president, power was in the
hands of General Gustavo Alvarez, the
Commander in Chief of the army. In 1982
Alvarez secured an amendment to the
constitution, reducing government control
over the armed forces, and was virtually in
charge of foreign policy, agreeing 1983 to
the establishment of US military bases in the
country. The US Central Intelligence Agency
was also active in assisting Nicaraguan
counter-revolutionaries based in Honduras. In
1984 Alvarez was ousted by a group of junior
officers and the country's close relationship
with the USA came under review. In the same
year divisions arose in the PLH over
selection of presidential candidates and in
1985 the electoral law was changed. Suazo was
not eligible to stand in the 1985
presidential elections and the main PLH
candidate was Jose Azeona. Although the PN
nominee won most votes, the revised
constitution made Azeona the eventual winner.
In the Nov 1989 presidential election, the PN
candidate, Rafael Callejas, was elected.